Page 140 - The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand Vol.XIII-2021

The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XIII – 2021

Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix set off Bangkok in 1843 to visit Christian

communities in Mae Klong and said that there were about 10,000 people there,
most of whom were Chinese who were traders and fishermen. Some of them
planted vegetables, tobacco plants, betel nut palms and some did salt farming. In

addition to visiting the Christian communities there, he surveyed the area and
water-based communities in Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi (San, 2009).

The Chinese communities were expanded after Damnoen Saduak
Canal was dug to connect the Tha Chin River and the Mae Klong River. Many
Chinese laborers married Thai women and settled down there. Some of them

were Christian converts. They cultivated plants and trees, traded agricultural
products, were craftsmen, work in sugar cane cutting factories and coconut sugar
making factories. When they were financially stable, they built of churches along

the river. Important churches were as follows (Ratchaburi Diocese, 2021).

- St. Michael Church, Don Krabuang, made of bamboo in 1856

- Phra Christ Phra Haruthai in Wat Phleng District. Initially it was

made of bamboo in 1864.

- Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral, Bang Nok Kwaek. It was made of
brick coated with cement in Gothic style in 1896. It is the biggest

and the most beautiful church on the Mae Klong River. It is the
principal church in Ratchaburi Diocese.

- St. Joseph Church, Ban Pong, built in 1915

- St. James Catholic Church, Mae Klong built in 1933

Besides building churches as the spirit of place, French missionary built
schools and these schools have been well-known for teaching academic content

and foreign language.

130 Urban Settlements, Religion and Spirit of Places along the Mae Klong River, Thailand