The First Presbyterian Church of Bangkok, Presbyterian church building in Samre, Thailand
The First Presbyterian Church of Bangkok is a church building with a rectangular layout and three column spans, featuring decorative stucco work on the riverside facade. The single-storey structure sits on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River with a bell tower added in 1912.
American Presbyterian missionaries established the church in 1849 during the reign of King Rama III, settling in the Kudeejeen community on the riverbank. The building marked the arrival of organized Christianity to Thailand and became a focal point for the faith's expansion in Bangkok.
The church served as a gathering place for foreign residents and Thai converts in a predominantly Buddhist city, creating a space where different traditions met. Its architectural style blends Western forms with tropical adaptations that reflect its cross-cultural purpose.
The building sits on the western bank of the Chao Phraya and is accessible from the adjacent street, though the neighborhood remains quieter than central Bangkok. Visitors should be mindful that this is an active place of worship where services may be taking place.
The Fine Arts Department of Thailand registered both the church and Windsor House as historical sites, recognizing their importance to the city's heritage. These two structures stand as reminders of Bangkok's 19th-century cosmopolitan character shaped by foreign settlement.
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