Assumption Cathedral
Photo by Supanut Arunoprayote (CC BY 4.0)

Assumption Cathedral

Assumption Cathedral in Bangkok is the most important Roman Catholic Church in Thailand. The building has an ornate interior with frescoes and stained glass windows depicting stories from the Bible.

Founded by French missionaries

Assumption Cathedral was founded by French missionaries. Father Pascal had the church built in 1821. The cathedral is named after the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, which is celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption on August 15^th.

Romanesque style

The cathedral was rebuilt in Romanesque style in 1918. During the second world war the building was damaged and subsequently restored. The church was extensively renovated and reopened in December 2015.

Exterior

The cathedral is a symmetrical building with large, arched windows on the sides. The red brick church stands a bit hidden from view surrounded by other buildings.

Church façade

Three arched entrances at the front of the building lead into the interior of the Cathedral. Flanking the central entrance are two 32 meter tall towers.

Interior

The church has an ornate, colorful interior. The atmosphere inside the building is serene and peaceful. Bas relief patterns and colorful frescoes depict the Virgin Mary, Jesus’s mother. Colorful stained glass windows show Biblical stories.

High vaulted ceiling

Assumption Cathedral’s nearly 26 meter high vaulted ceiling is adorned with golden stars on a dark blue background.

Dome

The large dome in the back is adorned with beautiful frescoes depicting Biblical stories, mainly scenes from the life of Mary.

The vicar delivers the sermon from a large alter. To the side of the alter stands a beautifully adorned baptismal font. Standing on a pedestal above the alter is a beautiful statue that shows the assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Stained glass windows

Beautiful and colorful stained glass windows depict scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. Among them are depictions of “Ram in the thicket” and “Binding of Isaac”, which depicts Abraham getting ready to sacrifice his son.

Most important Catholic church

Assumption Cathedral is the most important Catholic church in Thailand. It was visited by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.

Masses

Assumption Cathedral is an active church with daily masses, a choir and a pipe organ. Tourists are welcome to attend the mass. Prayer books and hymnals are laid out on the pews. There are daily masses in Thai and an English mass on Sunday. The schedule is:

English language:
Sunday 10 am

Thai language:
Monday through Friday at 6 am and 5:15 pm
Saturday at 6 am and 5 pm
Sunday at 7 am, 8:30 am and 5 pm

The building is air conditioned.

Dress code

Please dress appropriately meaning no shorts, short skirts or bare shoulders.

Opening hours

The church opens every day.

Location

Assumption Cathedral is located at 23 Oriental Avenue, New Road next to the Mandarin Oriental hotel.

How to get there

You can get to the cathedral by river boat, BTS Skytrain, taxi or tuk tuk.

Chao Phraya River Express boat
Take an orange flag boat of the Chao Phraya River Express boat service and get off at N1 Oriental pier. The cathedral is about a 100 meters walk from the pier.

BTS Sky Train
The nearest BTS Skytrain station is Saphan Taksin, at about one kilometer from the cathedral.

Taxi or tuk tuk
Otherwise take a taxi. Make sure the driver switches on the meter. If you’re close to the church you can take a tuk tuk. Agree on a price with the driver first.

BTS Sky Train, river boat, MRT Subway, Taxi, Tuk Tuk, tourist boat, Airport Rail Link