Photo by Supanut Arunoprayote (CC BY 4.0)
Assumption Cathedral
Assumption Cathedral in Bangkok is the most important Roman Catholic Church in Thailand. The building has an ornate interior with frescoes and stained glass windows depicting stories from the Bible.
Founded by French missionaries
Assumption Cathedral was founded by French missionaries. Father Pascal had the church built in 1821. The cathedral is named after the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, which is celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption on August 15th.
Romanesque style
The cathedral was rebuilt in Romanesque style in 1918. During the second world war the building was damaged and subsequently restored. The church was extensively renovated and reopened in December 2015.
Exterior
The cathedral is a symmetrical building with large, arched windows on the sides. The red brick church stands a bit hidden from view surrounded by other buildings.
Church façade
Three arched entrances at the front of the building lead into the interior of the Cathedral. Flanking the central entrance are two 32 meter tall towers.
Interior
The church has an ornate, colorful interior. The atmosphere inside the building is serene and peaceful. Bas relief patterns and colorful frescoes depict the Virgin Mary, Jesus’s mother. Colorful stained glass windows show Biblical stories.
High vaulted ceiling
Assumption Cathedral’s nearly 26 meter high vaulted ceiling is adorned with golden stars on a dark blue background.
Dome
The large dome in the back is adorned with beautiful frescoes depicting Biblical stories, mainly scenes from the life of Mary.
The vicar delivers the sermon from a large alter. To the side of the alter stands a beautifully adorned baptismal font. Standing on a pedestal above the alter is a beautiful statue that shows the assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Stained glass windows
Beautiful and colorful stained glass windows depict scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. Among them are depictions of “Ram in the thicket” and “Binding of Isaac”, which depicts Abraham getting ready to sacrifice his son.
Most important Catholic church
Assumption Cathedral is the most important Catholic church in Thailand. It was visited by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.
Masses
Assumption Cathedral is an active church with daily masses, a choir and a pipe organ. Tourists are welcome to attend the mass. Prayer books and hymnals are laid out on the pews. There are daily masses in Thai and an English mass on Sunday. The schedule is:
English language:
Sunday 10 am
Thai language:
Monday through Friday at 6 am and 5:15 pm
Saturday at 6 am and 5 pm
Sunday at 7 am, 8:30 am and 5 pm
The building is air conditioned.
Dress code
Please dress appropriately meaning no shorts, short skirts or bare shoulders.
Opening hours
The church opens every day.
Location
Assumption Cathedral is located at 23 Oriental Avenue, New Road next to the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
How to get there
You can get to the cathedral by river boat, BTS Skytrain, taxi or tuk tuk.
Chao Phraya River Express boat
Take an orange flag boat of the Chao Phraya River Express boat service and get off at N1 Oriental pier. The cathedral is about a 100 meters walk from the pier.
BTS Sky Train
The nearest BTS Skytrain station is Saphan Taksin, at about one kilometer from the cathedral.
Taxi or tuk tuk
Otherwise take a taxi. Make sure the driver switches on the meter. If you’re close to the church you can take a tuk tuk. Agree on a price with the driver first.
Entrance fee
Entrance to the church is free.
Other churches
Other catholic churches in Bangkok are:
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