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  Those were worrying times but eventually the application was withdrawn.

For the Bishop the Church was a reflection of Gods love for his People in the words of our Bishop. People of God must live according to his teaching and love each other and announce Jesus Christ in a customary manner to the local and surrounding Society. The Bishop decided the architecture of the Church must be in the Southern Thai style both in the external elevations and the interior; the choice of pictures was heavily influenced by him in a way to teach Catholics of their faith.

            On completion of St Agnes Church Bishop Prapoon presided over a consecration service on 30 June 2002. That day our Bishop proclaimed St. Agnes Church the most beautiful in all of Thailand.

               The words “most beautiful” were used by the Bishop to convey to all, a message of understanding of the struggle and hard work of the Community in establishing this pillar of the Universal Church in the South of Thailand.

Our Bishop also exclaimed at the time to Father Pipat Rongrengkanukul director of the Catholic Stigma tin Movement in Thailand this Church is a picture of God in the middle of the People of Southern Thailand.

St.Agnes Church is very much in the Southern Thai style. The structure is raised more than two metres above the ground as a precaution against flooding and additionally provides beautiful views of the area.

From the outside the architecture is very much in the Southern Thailand style as seen through the workings of Master Kitipong Tepjitra from Technology College Krabi. This also goes well with religion and architecture of local South People. The roof is in the typical quadruple triangle style. The front has a design of wooden craft architecture of the South. The Thai Muslim style Triangle decorates the front and importantly enables air to pass through giving a feeling inside the Church of natural cooling in conjunction with the folding side doors. The wood carvings here are very beautiful.

                High above the entrance stands St. Agnes clutching the lamb under the cross, so fitting for a young person who gave her life for our Lord Jesus rather than bow before a Pagan God. Underneath the inscription “Gloria in Excelsis Deo, hymnus angelicus sung by the Angels at the Birth of Christ (Luke 2:14). A framed photograph of our much loved former Bishop is placed to the right of the solid wood entrance doors. To the right of the entrance steps is a sculpture also of Bishop Prapoon as a constant reminder of the fundamental part he played in the building of our Church.

Around the outside the Church are beautiful stained glass windows portraying the "Stations of the Cross" and the progress of our Lords Suffering.

On entering there is the confessional are on the right adorned with a striking painting of the Prodigal Son being received by the Compassionate Father.

On the left is a staircase leading to a gallery above. Still on the ground floor is a small area for our Choir and Musicians.

On passing forward and looking up to the Gallery are paintings of Our Lord Jesus Christ surrounded by the four Gospel Apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The painted ceiling reveals the Heavenly figures set in the clouds.

Side walls are also adorned with magnificent pictures from the Scriptures including the very moving image of our Mother Mary receiving the Angel of the Lord with the news of Her being chosen by God to bear His Son. Another as Mary visits her Cousin Elizabeth.

The Alter is adorned with exquisite carvings of the grape vine signifying the holding together of God’s Family. A gold inlay mural of the "Last Supper" in this position alludes to the Communion Rites. The Scripture stand bears a picture of our Lord Jesus teaching. Behind the Alter the beautiful Thai Marble rises in steps and the theme of the vine is repeated on the Priest’s Chair.

In this area are sculptures of our Lord Jesus, Mother Mary with Child, St Joseph with Child and our very special St. Agnes.

Above the repository of the keys of St. Peter shines a chandelier. Our Lord hangs from the cross on high above this point as a reminder of his sacrifice to all Mankind.

.A few metres from the Church is another special place of prayer and Rosary to our Mother Mary. This feels a place of real solitude so often needed in the Modern World.

The departed will not be forgotten either as a piece of adjacent land has been purchased for the establishment of a Catholic Cemetery.

To strengthen further the Catholic Society in Krabi a Community Centre is under construction and its completion will be another landmark in the remarkable progress we have seen over the last few years.

Throughout the Church there is much evidence of the art and love rendered on what is much more than just another religious building. Our Priests, Sisters and the Laity have worked so hard for St Agnus Church to become this wonderful reality. Truly our Church has the feeling of the Living Christ...

Written by: Dennis Harvey – February 2006