Anglican Church in Thailand
Encyclopedia
The Anglican Church in Thailand (ACT) is a Deanery
of the Diocese of Singapore
within the Province of South East Asia
. It is in communion with other members of the worldwide Anglican Communion
.
ACT began with the Parish
of Christ Church Bangkok
. From 1991 onwards, new daughter churches and ministries were planted, as part of a process of growing to becoming a Diocese
of Thailand.
granted land near the Protestant Cemetery
on the Chao Phraya River
to the “Community of foreigners who are of Protestant Christian faith” to be used for a church building. The "Protestant Union Chapel" or informally the "English Church" opened for worship on 1st May 1864.
Except during 1869 -1892, when services were mostly of a
Presbyterian
nature, services were conducted according to the Anglican rite.
On 16th February 1896 the Rt. Revd. George Frederick Hose, Anglican Bishop of Singapore, Labuan and Sarawak conducted the first confirmation in the chapel.
On 7th April 1904 King Chulalongkorn
granted permission to sell the river site and gave land off North Sathorn Road for the erection of a new church. The new church, named “Christ Church
”, was dedicated on 30th April 1905.
Christ Church Bangkok was upgraded from a Chaplaincy to become a Parish of the Diocese of Singapore in 1963 when the Archdeacon of North Malaya, on behalf of the Bishop of Singapore, instituted and inducted the Revd. J.E. Ironside as the first Vicar.
Numerous English-speakers have worshipped at Christ Church including Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher
.
In 1991 the Revd. Gerald (Gerry) Khoo was appointed as assistant priest. The first meeting of a Thai congregation was attended by seven people in a small conference room. Since then the Thai congregation has grown markedly.
The Rainbowland Child Development Centre, a ministry of the Thai congregation, opened at Christ Church in 1998.
There has also been a massive expansion of the church in other parts of Thailand. Christ Church Banchang was established in 1996. Christ Church Sawang Daendin was established in 1999. A Church was planted in Korat Province in 2002.
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
of the Diocese of Singapore
Anglican Diocese of Singapore
The Anglican Diocese of Singapore consists of 26 Anglican parishes in Singapore to date and 6 deaneries throughout the Asia region. It has an established history of church-planting as well as providing educational, medical and social services in Singapore and the neighbouring region. The Diocese...
within the Province of South East Asia
Church of the Province of South East Asia
The Church of the Province of South East Asia, a member church of the Anglican Communion, was created in 1996, comprising the four dioceses of Kuching, Sabah, Singapore and West Malaysia...
. It is in communion with other members of the worldwide Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
.
ACT began with the Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Christ Church Bangkok
Christ Church Bangkok
Christ Church is a parish of the Anglican Church in Thailand within the Diocese of Singapore. It has both English- and Thai-language congregations. There are about 400 church members representing many different nationalities and denominational backgrounds...
. From 1991 onwards, new daughter churches and ministries were planted, as part of a process of growing to becoming a Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Thailand.
English Language
On 26th July 1861, at the request of a group of mostly British non-Roman Catholic Christians, King MongkutMongkut
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868...
granted land near the Protestant Cemetery
Bangkok Protestant Cemetery
The Bangkok Protestant Cemetery is a cemetery catering mainly to the foreign community in Bangkok. To date, the cemetery has over 1800 interments, and it is still accepting burials on a limited basis...
on the Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
to the “Community of foreigners who are of Protestant Christian faith” to be used for a church building. The "Protestant Union Chapel" or informally the "English Church" opened for worship on 1st May 1864.
Except during 1869 -1892, when services were mostly of a
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
nature, services were conducted according to the Anglican rite.
On 16th February 1896 the Rt. Revd. George Frederick Hose, Anglican Bishop of Singapore, Labuan and Sarawak conducted the first confirmation in the chapel.
On 7th April 1904 King Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
granted permission to sell the river site and gave land off North Sathorn Road for the erection of a new church. The new church, named “Christ Church
Christ Church Bangkok
Christ Church is a parish of the Anglican Church in Thailand within the Diocese of Singapore. It has both English- and Thai-language congregations. There are about 400 church members representing many different nationalities and denominational backgrounds...
”, was dedicated on 30th April 1905.
Christ Church Bangkok was upgraded from a Chaplaincy to become a Parish of the Diocese of Singapore in 1963 when the Archdeacon of North Malaya, on behalf of the Bishop of Singapore, instituted and inducted the Revd. J.E. Ironside as the first Vicar.
Numerous English-speakers have worshipped at Christ Church including Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
.
Thai Language
Worship in Thai began during the years 1934-1940 using a prayer book translated by the Revd. C.W. Norwood with the help of Thai nationals, but it was more than fifty years before the church was able to find a Thai-speaking clergyman.In 1991 the Revd. Gerald (Gerry) Khoo was appointed as assistant priest. The first meeting of a Thai congregation was attended by seven people in a small conference room. Since then the Thai congregation has grown markedly.
The Rainbowland Child Development Centre, a ministry of the Thai congregation, opened at Christ Church in 1998.
There has also been a massive expansion of the church in other parts of Thailand. Christ Church Banchang was established in 1996. Christ Church Sawang Daendin was established in 1999. A Church was planted in Korat Province in 2002.
Registration
The Anglican Church in Thailand was registered with the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand on 9th May 1994.External links
- History of the Anglican Church in Thailand
- A Prayer Book for Thailand in Thai and English