Welcome to the heart of the Kudi Chin community! I could not believe my eyes when I first came here. As a Buddhist in a Buddhist country, I will never expect to see any beautiful church which looks similar to one in Europe here in Bangkok.
The Kudi Chin community is a community by the river of Chaophraya with a long history of the Thai-Portuguese establishment in Siam (Thailand nowadays) since the 16th century. The community consists of diverse groups of people from 3 different religious backgrounds: Christian, Buddhist and Muslim. The majority of the people in the community here is the Thai-Portuguese, which is Christian and has important roles in shaping Thai culture as of today.
The Santa Cruz Church is known as Kudi Chin Church or Wat Santa Cruz for Thais, is a Catholic church located at the center of the Kudi Chin community which served the Thai-Portuguese descendants in the community.
Story of A Distinctive Catholic Architecture
The Santa Cruz church was built in 1769 during the reign of King Taksin the Great. After the second fall of Ayutthaya, the King granted land in the Kudi Chin community to Father Corre, a Thai-Portuguese priest who had migrated from Ayutthaya.
It was originally constructed entirely of wood. However, after a fire in 1836, it was rebuilt using bricks. Over the decades, the building began to deteriorate, prompting Father Guglielmo G. da Cruz to lead a major renovation in 1916. This resulted in the current design.
The church presences in the community in a western style of building, which makes it stand out from the surrounding building, alongside with temples and mosques in the community, emphasizing the harmonising of the multicultural people in the Kudi Chin community.
Inside the church, it is primarily decorated in white, black, and gold. Stained glass windows depict scenes and figures from Christian history, while the walls feature murals narrating the story of Christianity. The main hall is adorned with rows of columns that support the structure and the roof, detailed with intricate designs that rival the beauty of the church’s exterior.
You can also pray or attend the ceremony at the temple. Please check the opening hours or contact the Church for the scheduled activities.
Located at The Center of Kudi Chin Community
Santa Cruz church is located at the heart of the Kudi Chin community. You can also walk around to experience the authentic day-to-day life of people in the community or visit Baan Kudichin Museum for the in-depth history and culture of the community.
Opening Hours
The church is open for the specific ceremony only. Check for the latest activity via channels below:
Facebook page: Santacruz Church วัดซางตาครู้ส
Email: santacruzchurch@hotmail.com
Phone: 66 (0)90-415-3728
How to get there?
By walking. Start from Wat Kalayanamitr, walk along the riverside walkway for about 200 meters. The Church will be on the right.
