What if these teak walls could talk? The First Church of Chiang Mai also known as Suriyachaitham Church stands before us. It is more than a building. It is a story etched in teak and faith.
Let’s step back to the late 1860s. Daniel McGilvary a Presbyterian missionary arrives in Chiang Mai. He is on a mission to establish the Laos Mission. This marked the beginning of Protestantism in Northern Siam.
In 1868, a piece of land is gifted to McGilvary by Kawilorot Suriyawong. He is the ruler of Chiang Mai. This land on the Ping River’s east bank becomes the mission’s first home. A simple thatched dwelling serves as a place for Sunday worship.
The congregation grows quickly. A larger house replaces the thatched one. It can hold 200 worshippers. Even this becomes too small. Services spill over into the adjacent unfinished girls’ mission school. This later becomes the Dara Academy.
By 1888, the girls’ school is complete. McGilvary decides it is time to build a proper church. He commissions Marion Alonzo Cheek to design it. Cheek is a former physician and missionary. He is now a businessman in the timber trade.
Cheek’s saw-mill provides the teak for the new church. The weatherboard church rises over three years. It costs $7,000. On August 9 1891, McGilvary leads the dedication ceremony. The First Church of Chiang Mai is born.
For decades, the Suriyachaitham Church is a central point of worship. It is a testament to the growing Christian community. Services are held here until 1968.
In 1968, the new Chiang Mai First Presbyterian Church opens on Charoen Rat Road. The old church transitions to a new role. It becomes a place for Christian instruction classes.
Today, this teak structure stands as a redundant church. It is a powerful reminder of Chiang Mai’s rich history. The Suriyachaitham Church represents faith hope and community. It also represents the enduring legacy of the missionaries who brought their beliefs to this northern land.
The First Church of Chiang Mai remains a historical landmark. It is a testament to Chiang Mai’s diverse cultural tapestry. It stands as a symbol of the past. It also is a testament to the enduring spirit of faith in Chiang Mai.