The MEP in Thailand (1662-1975): an overview

In 1662, M^gr Lambert de la Motte arrives in Ayutthaya (Siam), where he founds the first seminary. The Ayutthaya college is then created four years later and constitutes for almost three centuries the main training body of the local clergy. In 1669, the apostolic vicariate of Siam is instituted and M^gr Louis Laneau is nominated first vicar apostolic.

Despite these peaceful and promising beginnings, a harmful political chain of events follows, marking the start of the numerous failures that the mission will experience for about 150 years. Indeed, in 1688, French troops are expelled from the kingdom. A Siamese xenophobic reaction against the missionaries then takes place. The missionary numbers are thereby considerably reduced by 1690, when the MEP resume their activities.

The mission slowly manages to start over but, between 1731 and 1834, severe prohibitions proclaimed by the government seriously hinder its development. Moreover, there is a low turnover rate among the missionary ranks. Concurrently, very destructive Burman invasions lead to serious complications during M^gr Brigot’s episcopacy in the 1760s. Afterwards, the mission is able to lay solid foundations thanks to the land offered by king Thaskin. However, the king also forbids the Siamese convert to Christianity or Islam in 1774. The king’s death in 1782 brings about major changes: the missionaries, focused on Bangkok, can explore new provinces, and expand their scope of action from now on.

Over the course of M^gr Garnault’s episcopacy (1786-1811), the mission is reorganised around Penang. This represents an opportunity for the MEP to convert the Siamese living in provinces isolated from the capital and the central authority’s control. The missionary activity outside Bangkok continues during M^gr Florens’s episcopacy (1811-1834). However, this period is also marked by a real lack of missionaries in the ranks of the Siam MEP mission. The mission really develops from the episcopacy of M^gr Courvezy (1834-1844), who orders the building of numerous schools and churches, thereby renovating the vicariate. On the 10^th of September 1841, a papal brief institute the first major division of the Siam mission into two apostolic vicariates: Western Siam and Eastern Siam.

During M^gr Pallegoix’s episcopacy (1841-1862), despite some complications, the apostolate of the MEP is facilitated by commercial treaties signed between foreign powers and Siam in the 1850s. But these treaties also entail certain excesses and therefore provoke a growing discontent among the Siamese population regarding the French presence. This change of attitude is confirmed in 1868 with the death of Rama IV and the arrival to power of a new regent, less tolerant with the missionaries.

Rama V’s reign (1868-1910) sees a rapid modernisation of Siam associated with greater religious liberty. The episcopacy of M^gr Vey is therefore marked by a growth in the number of vocations. In the early twentieth century, the vicariate also goes through numerous divisions, with the objective of expanding the borders of the mission and reaching new regions unknown to the MEP up to this point.

But if the missions are thriving during this period, the 24^th of June 1932 coup d’état and the change of regime that follows put an end to the warm relations between the Church and the state, making the apostolate of Siam more difficult. In 1939, Siam becomes Thailand, and the new government demands that France gives back the territories it annexed since 1893. France refuses and the war is declared in 1940. Missionaries in Thailand are thereby forced to leave Bangkok. Many missionaries fearing for their lives will then flee Bangkok for Vietnam. In 1944, when the conflict is resolved, the missionaries that left Bangkok are asked to return. From 1947 onwards, the MEP start to transfer ecclesiastical offices to a local clergy.

Chronology

1662: M^gr Lambert de la Motte arrives in Ayutthaya and creates the first seminary.

1666: foundation of the Ayutthaya college.

1669: creation of the apostolic vicariate of Siam. M^gr Louis Laneau is the first vicar apostolic nominated.

1688: deportation and imprisonment of the MEP missionaries because of the French intervention.

1690: resumption of the MEP activities.
The mission is greatly diminished: only 6 missionaries are left instead of 19, and 120 Christian Siamese remain out of the 500 to 600 before the persecutions.

1730: four major prohibitions are promulgated against the Christians.

1767: Ayutthaya is destroyed during the Burman invasion.

1774:  a new edict forbids the Siamese to convert to Christianity or Islam.

1775: opening of the Bangkok seminary.

1786: there are 2,000 Christians in the Siam mission, including 988 only in Bangkok.

1792-1817: only 12 missionaries leave for Asia.

1834: there are 4,000 Christians in the Siam mission.

1841: the apostolic vicariate of Siam is divided into two vicariates: Eastern Siam (Thailand, Laos) and Western Siam (Singapour, Malacca, Penang, Mergui, and Tavay).

1856: Franco-Siamese treaty offering French nationals consular jurisdiction.

1868: Rama V succeeds to the Siamese throne. His reign favours the modernisation of the country and religious liberty.

1874: the Siam mission is made of 21 missionaries, assisted by 6 local priests, 32 catechists and 32 Lovers of the Holy Cross, for 10,364 Christians.

1875-1898: the number of foreign missionaries doubles from 26 to 53.

1927: the clergy is made of 35 Thai priests and 24 French missionaries, who are now in minority.

24^th of June 1932: coup d’état and seizing of power by the military junta.

1939: Prime minister Phibun Songkhram seizes power and changes the name of the country. Siam becomes Thailand.
The new government demands that France gives back the territories it annexed since 1893. France refuses.

1940-1944: Franco-Thai conflict.
Many missionaries leave the country: 13 missionaries leave Thailand in 1941.

1965: Paul VI establishes 5 suffragan dioceses in Thailand. Thai bishops are nominated at the head of these dioceses.