#chantaboon

Steamship Chantaboon in 1952. Its route was from the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok to Tha Chalaep on the Chanthaburi river near Laem Sing.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Catholic community of Chantaburi originated from the 130 Catholic Vietnamese who migrated from Vietnam and settled down here because of religious persecution.

This occurred before 1711 during the reign of the Thai King Tai Sra af Ayudhaya, which was then the capital of Siam (the old name for Thailand).

Bishop Pion de Sise appointed Fr. Heutte to look after the Catholic group. It was this priest who had the first chapel built the west bank of the Chantaburi river in 1711.

During the years between 1730 and 1752 when Fr. Gabriel was the parish priest, there was an uprising at this Catholic village and it resulted in some Catholics being deported to Ayudhaya while others took refuge in various places.

In 1752 Fr. De Gauna, the pastor, called these scattered Catholics back to settle down in the same place. He had the second chapel built. It was made of planks and bamboo stems with palm leaves used for the roof.

The Catholic population was then about 200 people. In 1834 the pastor, Fr. Matthias Do, and his associate, Fr. Clemenso, had the third chapel built but it was on the east side of the river (the site of present church). It was made of old planks and bamboo stems. By this time the Catholic population was more than 1,000 people.

Fr. Ran Faing was appointed pastor in 1838. Since the number of Catholics had Increased the fourth chapel was built in 1855, with some financial assistance from the faithful. The chapel appeared to have been a solid building because it took 21 years before it was completed. At a time there were about 1,500 Catholics.

In the year 1900, Bishop Wei appointed Fr. Perical to be pastor. Since the number of Catholics had increased to 2,400 people, a project to build the fifth church (the present church) was commenced with architecural plans for a western style church. The building was 20 meters wide and 6 meters long.

The blessing of the foundation stone took place on the sixth of January 1906. This church was blessed on the tenth of January, 1909 by Fr. Kalomber.

The silver jubilee of the church was held on the nineteenth of February, 1933, when Fr. Simon was the pastor.

The present church was canonically raised to the rank of cathedral during the years 1944-1953. Bunchoo Rangabpit was the pastor.