It was a muggy, drizzly Easter morning, but it was dry and bright inside the church. Christ Church, also known as the "English Church", is a parish in the Diocese of Singapore of the Church of the Province of Southeast Asia, the regional Anglican Church. Though definitely Anglican, it was originally founded in 1862 to be a place of worship for all English-speaking Christians, and due to its position in Thailand, attracts a congregation of many different Protestant denominational backgrounds. Nowadays, there are services in both English and Thai.
As a fun note, Queen Elizabeth II herself once worshiped at Christ Church during a tour of Asia!
Father Tim, the vicar, presided over the small early morning congregation of mostly old people (and me). The 10:00 service would be much, much larger, especially on Easter. They had even set up overflow seating in the parish hall. The service was a very nice Anglican Easter service, and afterwards there was a small Easter breakfast provided in the parish hall.
Father Tim and the assistant vicar, Henry (who for some reason, despite being the assistant, is a bishop) joined in the breakfast of tea, coffee, boiled eggs, cornflakes, and toast with butter and marmalade. Bishop Henry came in his purple shirt and collar, and Father Tim in a very festive baby blue vest decorated with a pattern of fluffy springtime sheep.
"Happy Easter, everyone!" Father Tim called from the head of the long table. "What are we all doing?"
"Listening to you yak", Geoffrey called back jokingly.
"Well", Tim teased back, "that is your Easter privilege!"
I really enjoy the English expat crowd.
Happy Easter, one and all!
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