The roots of Protestant Christianity in Thailand trace back nearly two centuries to a pair of pioneering missionaries whose passion for faith and education left an enduring mark on this Southeast Asian nation.

In 1828, Reverend Jacob Tomlin, representing the London Missionary Society, and Dr. Karl Gutzlaff from the Netherlands Missionary Society, arrived on Thai shores with a shared vision — to plant the seeds of the Protestant Church in a predominantly Buddhist land. Their early work laid the foundation for generations of faith-based initiatives that have since woven Christianity into the fabric of Thai society.

By the 1830s, more denominations followed. American Baptists made their way to Thailand in 1833, and within a decade, American Presbyterians joined the growing network of missionaries. The 19th century became a defining period for Protestant outreach, marked by milestones that combined faith, education, and community building:

• 1861: Rev. Dr. Daniel McGilvary and Rev. Dr. Samuel G. Macfaland established a mission station in Petchaburi.
• 1867: McGilvary expanded the mission northward, founding the Chiang Mai station.
• 1868: The Laos Mission organized its first congregation — the Chiang Mai Church — now known as First Church, Chiang Mai.
• 1878: The first Presbyterian Church in Chiang Mai was founded.
• 1883: The full Thai translation of the Bible was completed.
• 1885: The establishment of Assumption College in Bangkok marked the beginning of modern Catholic education in Thailand.

From these beginnings, the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) emerged in the mid-1930s as the country’s oldest Protestant umbrella organization. Today, it brings together Thai, Chinese, Korean, and English-speaking congregations with an estimated 60,000 members across the nation.

By the turn of the 20th century, mission stations had expanded across the north — to Lampang, Lamphun, Prae, Nan, Chiang Rai, and Pitsanulok. Missionaries became as well known for their medical and educational work as for their evangelism, introducing new technologies, teaching methods, and social institutions that resonated deeply with local communities.

“The Thai people were very appreciative,” said Dr. Prawate Khid-Arn, Assistant to the General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations with the World Communion of Reformed Churches. “Missionaries brought education, new systems of communication and transportation, and a new way of thinking.”

In the latter half of the 20th century, as Thailand modernized, cooperation between the government and Christian organizations flourished. Institutions such as Saint Louis Hospital, Bangkok Mission Hospital, Camillian Hospital, and Bangkok Christian Hospital became symbols of Christian service in public health and development.

Over the past five decades, Thai and Western Christians — particularly those within the Church of Christ in Thailand — have worked together to reform church administration, strengthen interreligious dialogue, and promote social development. “The focus,” Dr. Khid-Arn explained, “has been on adapting the Gospel to Thai culture while nurturing respect for other faiths.”

Today, approximately one million Christians live in Thailand, representing between 1.2% and 1.4% of the national population, according to recent reports. Although Buddhism remains the dominant religion, Christianity has found particular resonance in the country’s northern regions and among tribal communities.

Thailand’s openness to dialogue and diversity has also made it a regional hub for Christian conferences and gatherings, often attracting participants from neighboring countries where missionary activity is restricted.

“From the 16th century onward, when Catholic missionaries first arrived, the Thai people have shown an openness to different beliefs,” said Dr. Khid-Arn. “This spirit of welcome continues to shape the relationship between Thailand and the global Christian community.”

Two centuries since Tomlin and Gutzlaff first set foot in Thailand, their mission continues — not just through churches and institutions, but through a legacy of partnership, compassion, and cultural understanding.