Holy Rosary Church, Bangkok

Though primarily a Buddhist country, Thailand has traces of Christianity that reflects Thailand’s religious harmony. With the advent of Portuguese traders in Bangkok in 1567, Christianity started establishing its roots in Thailand. Portuguese built their first Catholic Church (Santa Cruz Church) in Ayutthaya – capital of Thailand at that time. During 1662 French missionaries came to Bangkok and maintained their supremacy on the Catholic Church in Bangkok for next 200 years. As a result, the Portuguese missionaries left Santa Cruz Church and established Holy Rosary Church in 1786 in Bangkok on the land granted by King Rama I. Four years after the church was established, Bangkok was declared as the country's capital.

The Holy Rosary church was rebuilt three times due to structural damages over the years. Influenced by Western Style, the present cream-colored structure (rebuilt third time from 1891 to 1898) has a high facade topped with a towering spire. A statue of the Virgin Mary stands atop its towering spire.

Local people in Bangkok call the Holy Rosary Church by the name Kalawar Church. The word Kalawar is derived as a broken word from Calvary, a place near Jerusalem where crucifixion of Jesus Christ had been done. Holy Rosary Church has a magnificent architecture of Neo-Gothic style. Colored stained glasses inside the church tell the story of the New and Old Testament.

A statue of the Virgin Mary stands in the little garden in the Sisters' quarters next to the main church building. A Crucifix is on the outer wall of the quarters while a beautiful garden at the corner with another statue of the Virgin Mary completes the scene of peace and tranquility.

Holy Rosary Church is one of the old 67 churches in Bangkok. You must visit it as it has always been a favorite place for Catholic devotees and the focal point of numerous photographers and artists.