Church of St. Michael the Archangel ( Thai วัด อัคร เทวดา มี คา แอ ล ณ บ้าน หนอง ซ่ ง แย้, Wat Akhan Thewada Mikha-el na Ban Nong Songyae ) is a Catholic church located in the village of Ban Nongsongyae, Yasthon Province, Thailand . The largest wooden church in thailand. The Ministry of Tourism of Thailand has included the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in the register of cultural heritage.
| Sight | |
| Church of St. Michael the Archangel | |
|---|---|
| วัด อัคร เทวดา มี คา แอ ล ณ บ้าน หนอง ซ่ ง แย้ | |
 | |
| A country |  Thailand |
| Location | Songyae Village |
| Denomination | Roman catholic church |
| Diocese | |
| Building | 1947 - 1953 |
| Material | |
| condition | active temple |
| Site | |
History
Historical information about the church is known from the memoirs of the Catholic missionary of the apostolic vicar Laos, Bishop Claude-Philippe Bayeux , who mentions the Catholic community in the village of Ban Nongsongyae. According to Claude-Philippe Bayeux, in 1908, the first five Catholic families settled in Ban Nongsongyae. These families were visited monthly by Catholic missionaries, who gradually built up temporary housing in the village. In 1909, the missionary house became a temporary Catholic chapel. In 1913, the number of Catholics in Ban Nongsongyae increased to fifteen families. In 1914, after the outbreak of World War I, French missionaries were drafted into the army and the local Catholic community was served by only one priest, who was assisted by the catechist Nai Xiangtan. In 1919, when the number of Catholics in the village increased to 400 people, a small church was built, which was used for several years. Soon the need arose to build a new third temple in Ban Nongsongyae. This church was damaged during a fire and, after restoration, was significantly expanded.
In 1936, the Catholic community in Ban Nongsongyae bought wood for the construction of a new temple. The purchased building material was confiscated by local authorities, so the Catholic community used the old third temple until 1947, when the construction of the fourth modern temple, which was built in 1953, began. On April 25, 1953, the temple was consecrated by Bishop Claude-Philippe Bayeux.
The church was repaired several times. The last repair was in 2006 in anticipation of the celebration of the 100-year stay of Catholics in Ban Nongsongyae.
Currently, Catholic services are regularly held in the church. There is a secondary school “Songyae Wittaya” and a small museum at the temple.
Source
- Christianity in Thailand: Christian Missionaries in Thailand, Church Buildings in Thailand, Roman Catholic Church in Thailand, Church of the Province of South East Asia, Roman Catholicism in Thailand, Alfred James Broomhall, St Michael's Church, Songyae , 2011, ISBN 1156041791
- Christianity in Thailand: Christian Missionaries in Thailand, Church Buildings in Thailand, Roman Catholic Church in Thailand
Links
- Photo Gallery (Thai)