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Chiang Mai Life Church

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“Did they really hold services in an unfinished schoolhouse?” The Chiang Mai Life Church has seen a lot of changes over the years. It started as a small mission in 1867, founded by an American Presbyterian missionary named Daniel McGilvary. Back then, they didn’t even have a proper church building. They held services in McGilvary’s home, then a temporary dwelling, and even in an unfinished girls’ school that later became the Dara Academy. Can you imagine that? Finally, in 1888, construction began on the first church building. It took three years and $7,000 to complete. The church, made entirely of teak wood, was designed and built by Marion Alonzo Cheek, a former missionary turned businessman. The dedication ceremony was held on August 9, 1891. The Chiang Mai Life Church continued to serve the community for many years. In 1968, a new Chiang Mai First Presbyterian Church was opened on Charoen Rat Road. This marked a new chapter in the church’s history. Today, the original Chiang Mai Life Church building is no longer used for regular services but remains a testament to the enduring legacy of faith and dedication that built this community.

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