Krabi  is a most beautiful province in the Andaman Sea on Thailand’s West Coast. St Agnes Church Krabi is about 600 metres from Nopparat Beach, Ao Nang.
    At present we have about 50 people local Catholic Parishioners and more than 20 regular Foreign Residents and Visitors..

   The Church was completed some four years ago and not without an ecumenicalinput or difficulties.  The Architect was a Buddhist, the Builder a Muslim and our champion the late Bishop Michael Prapoon Chigalern of Surathani Diocese to whom we owe so much for his quiet determination and inspiration.

            Land for the Church and surrounding facilities was acquired some eighteen years ago and for a long time, due to the kindness of certain Parishioners Mass was, in the meantime held in the Andaman Holiday Resort which they manage.    

            St.  Agnes Church stands in an area which is surrounded by Mangrove swamp which presented serious structural challenges.  The building is based on a number of pillars for support – much the same as King Solomon’s temple in the Old Testament Days. Unfortunately some of the original pillars proved to be too short due to them breaking through soft sedimentary rock and much longer ones then had to be provided.  Even as the Church neared completion it was threatened by destruction when a Neighbouring Land Owner applied to build an entertainment facility. Such buildings are not allowed by Thai Law to be erected close to Religious institutions.  Those were worrying times but eventually the application was withdrawn.
 

                                                     
History   Saint Agnes
SAINT AGNES
Almighty and eternal God, You choose the weak things of this world to put the strong to shame.

Grant that we may enjoy the benefits of the prayers of your Virgin and Martyr, St. Agnes

AGNES Was only twelve year old when she was led to the altar of the pagan goddess. Minerva in Rome to offer incense to her. But she raised her hands to Jesus Christ and made the Sign of the Cross.

The soldiers bound her hands and feet. Her young hands were so thin that the chains slipped from her wrists. When the judge saw that she was not afraid of pain. he had her clothes stripped off, and she had to stand in the street before a pagan crowd. She cried out, "Christ will guard His own"

While the crowd turned away from her, a young man dared to look at her with  sinful thoughts. A flash of lightning struck him blind.

Agnes was offered the hand of a rich young man in marriage, but she answered, "Christ is my Spouse. He chose me first and His I will be. He made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve.

After having prayed, she bowed her neck to the sword. At one stroke her head was cut off, and  the angels  took her soul to heaven.

The name Agnes comes from the Latin word agnus, meaning lamb, and reminds us of the gentleness of this young saint.