Foreign Christians have been free to worship in Thailand for nearly five hundred years. The first to do so were Portuguese traders who settled outside Ayutthaya early in the 16th century. The remains of three Roman Catholic churches and a graveyard can still be seen there.

Ayutthaya was destroyed in 1767, and it was ninety years before Westerners began to settle in Thailand again; welcomed by King Mongkut (1851-1868). Protestant and Roman Catholic missionaries came and worked without hindrance amongst the Thai and Chinese communities. They built hospitals and schools, many of which are still flourishing. There were also many fine Roman Catholic churches. But there was no equivalent Protestant church, though there was a Protestant Cemetery which is still in use.

Chronology

The Church began at a site by the river

3 June 1861	Meeting of non-Roman Catholic Christians held at the British Consulate: Protestant Church Committee formed.	East Window of Chapel
26 July 1861	King Mongkut granted land by the river to the Community of foreigners of Protestant Christian faith.
1 May 1864	The Protestant Union Chapel (also called “The English Church”) opened for worship. The preacher at the opening service was the Rev. S. Mattoon of the American Presbyterian Mission.
April 1894	Canon William Greenstock came as Chaplain, supported by SPG (Society for the Propagation of the Gospel).
16 Feb 1896	First confirmation in the chapel. It was conducted by Bishop George Hose, Bishop of Singapore Labuan & Sarawak.
7 April 1904	King Chulalongkorn granted permission to sell the river site and gave land off North Sathorn Road.

Clergy, River Site
1864-1892	American missionaries
1894-1900	W. G. Greenstock (Chaplain)
1900-1901	American Presbyterian missionaries
1901-1902	W. H. Robins (Chaplain)
1902-1903	American Presbyterian missionaries
1903-1905	H. de Courcy Blakeney (Chaplain)

Christ Church was built on land granted by King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, to the English-speaking Protestant Christian community.

Christ Church 1905 - 1963

30 April 1905	Church building dedicated. The service was conducted by the Rev. H. de Courcy Blakeney (chaplain), Canon W. Greenstock (SPG) and the Rev. J. Carrington (American Bible Society).
September 1905	Baptism font arrived.
19 November 1905	Pipe organ dedicated.
1907	Clergy stalls and chancel screen provided.
1913	First ceiling fans installed.

Christ Church

East windows

Armchair seating

Ceiling fan

4 November – 2 December 1917	Severe flooding: services were held at the British Legation instead of at Christ Church.
December 1918	Land between the church building and BNH Hospital purchased.
1928	Celebration of a century of Protestant missions in Thailand.
23 July 1937	British Government’s representative no longer to be ex-officio chairman of the Church Committee.
1941	The Chaplain was interned in a military camp during World War II and the Church’s affairs were looked after by the Scandinavian community.
1946	Church Services were resumed upon cessation of hostilities.
1948	The Church began to take full responsibility for financing all of its own affairs.
1 May 1955	Golden Jubilee celebrations.
1956	Services began to be taken in Saigon, Phnom Penh and Vientiane as circumstances demanded.

Chaplains, Christ Church - 1905 to 1963
1905-1907	H. de Courcy Blakeney	1941-1945	Chaplain interned-Second World War
1908-1920	Dr. H. J. Hillyard	1945-1946	British Army Chaplains
1920-1921	C. R. Simmons	1946-1951	C. G. Eagling
1921	F. Dowland Ryan	1951-1955	W. H. Fowke
1922-1932	C. R. Simmons	1955-1958	J. L. Gilmour
1932-1935	E. Edwards	1958-1962	E. J. Pulman
1935-1940	C. W. Norwood	1962-1963	Interregnum - Diocesan Clergy
1940-1941	C. G. Eagling

Christ Church 1963 -

1963	The Revd J. E. Ironside inducted as Vicar. This saw the end of 70 years of chaplaincies.
1969	New Vicarage built.
13 February 1972	H.M. Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh and H.R.H. The Princess Anne attended divine service.
1976	Memorial Chapel and Garden of Remembrance were dedicated.
1982	Outreach to Karen displaced persons began.
10 February 1991	The Colin Britton Memorial Windows are dedicated.
1991	Thai-language ministry organised by the Revd Gerry (Gerald) Khoo and his wife, Dorothy.
1993-4	Air-conditioning installed.
1994	Anglican Church in Thailand registered with Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand.

Chapel and Vicarage

Garden of Remembrance

Rainbowland

Li Hall

1996	Christ Church Banchang established.
1998	Rainbowland Child Development Centre opened in the Old Vicarage.
1999	A new wall, gates and a car park built.
1999	Christ Church Sawang Daendin established.
November 2001	The Li Hall (parish hall) was dedicated.
26 December 2004	Tsunami: Christ Church responded quickly with active involvement and aid.
Statement of vision and core values produced by the 2005/6 Parish Church Council "Christ Church Bangkok strives to be a vibrant, growing, welcoming, Bible-based, prayerful community which worships the risen Jesus Christ, and demonstrates Christ's love." We are committed to the authority and accuracy of Scripture as the ultimate voice of God, who defines our faith and life together: We express our love for God in worship and in prayer We are a Bible-based, prayerful community, equipping God's servants to apply God's Word and will in practical ways We come to worship God: we know He is present, we hear Him speak We reach out to each other and to the community: We express our love for our neighbours by caring for them and helping them to know and experience God's love through Jesus Christ We are committed to share God's love by serving Thailand and its people We are a caring community. Each person is valued and by God's Word we seek to build each other up in Christ
30 April 2005	Centenary Celebration of the church building on the corner of Convent and North Sathorn Roads.
August 2005	Installation of bell (made 1955).
29 April 2007	Dedication of Sala in memory of Archdeacon Gerald (Gerry) Khoo.

Christ Church Vicars Since 1963
1963-1966	J. E. Ironside	1986-1995	Canon Dr. Monty Morris
1966-1971	D. N. Bowers	1995-1997	Bruce Mc Nab
1971-1973	P. D. Kingston	1998-2004	Stephen Gabbott
1973-1981	Canon John Taylor, O.B.E.	2004-2005	Andrew Dircks
1982-1984	Ian Bull	2005-2006	Stephen Gabbott (Interim Vicar)
1984-1986	Interregnum - John Morrett (Acting Vicar)	2006-	Peter Cook

Bibliography