Nestled on the east bank of the Ping River, Siri Phra Phon Christian Church has a captivating history. It began in 1867 when Daniel McGilvary, an American Presbyterian missionary, arrived in Chiang Mai. He soon received land from the ruler of Chiang Mai, Kawilorot Suriyawong, to establish the Laos Mission. The first structure was a simple dwelling with a thatched roof, used for worship. As the congregation grew at Siri Phra Phon Christian Church, services moved to the unfinished girls’ mission school next door. This school later became the Dara Academy. By 1888, the need for a dedicated church building became clear. McGilvary commissioned Marion Alonzo Cheek, a former missionary turned businessman, to design and construct Siri Phra Phon Christian Church. Cheek owned a sawmill in Chiang Mai, providing the teak wood used in construction. The church, built in the American colonial Gothic style, was finished in 1891 at a cost of $7,000. The dedication ceremony, led by McGilvary, marked a significant milestone for the Christian community in Northern Siam. Siri Phra Phon Christian Church served the community until 1968. A new Chiang Mai First Presbyterian Church opened on Charoen Rat Road then. Today, the historic building continues to be used for Christian instruction classes, keeping its legacy alive.
Wat Pa Tan
“P4C4+922.”” Have you ever heard an address like that? It’s the address of Wat Pa Tan. It seems modern technology