The Danish Church in Bangkok is set to become a shared workplace for Scandinavian priesthood, as the incoming Swedish priest will be based at the church from 2027.
Since moving into the white house on Soi Ruamrudee 4 in 2024, the Danish Church has hosted guests, churchgoers and interns. Now, the premises will also provide office space for the new Swedish priest, as the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian churches in Thailand strengthen their cooperation.
For Nicolaj Stubbe Hørlyck, priest at the Danish Church in Bangkok, the arrangement is a natural development.
“It is a natural fit for us to work together, because our church traditions are so alike. We are a little alone in what we do, so having a co-working space with the coming Swedish priest will be a source of companionship, as well as allowing us to help each other when we are away or unable to hold our services,” he says.
The closer cooperation is already reflected in the churches’ Sunday services. The Danish Church has begun hosting monthly Swedish and Norwegian services, giving Scandinavians in Bangkok more opportunities to attend services in their own language and meet fellow community members.
The Norwegian services are particularly relevant for those living in the capital, as the Norwegian Seamen’s Church is based in Pattaya, where a large Norwegian community resides. The monthly services at the Danish Church make it easier for Norwegians in Bangkok and the surrounding areas to gather.
The expanded schedule means that every Sunday of the month now features a service organised by one or more of the Scandinavian churches:
- First Sunday: Danish service
- Second Sunday: Norwegian pop-up service at the Danish Church
- Third Sunday: Swedish service at the Danish Church
- Fourth Sunday: Joint Scandinavian service at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in Pattaya
The arrival of the new Swedish priest will also mark a change in how the Swedish Church organises its presence in the region. The current priest, Olof Olsson, returned to Bangkok in 2023 for a three-to-four-year posting covering Southeast Asia and Japan. He is expected to retire at the end of 2026.
His successor has not yet been appointed, but will be based in Bangkok, with the Danish Church providing the office space.
For Hørlyck, the arrangement is about more than sharing a workplace. It is also an opportunity to create a closer Scandinavian community.
“We already share some of our inventory, like books and furniture. It will be a Scandinavian gathering spot, and we are so happy about that,” he says.
