St Michael's Church, Songyae

According to the brochure published by the church, the Reverend Bishop Baye collected the history proper from congregational recollections, together with information from the Reverend Desaval's memoir. The first five families to settle in Ban Nong-Song-Yae arrived in 1908, some of them having been accused in their former homes of being possessed by ghosts. News of a Catholic priest in Ban-Sae-Song (บ้านเซซ่ง reached the villagers, and four of them met the Reverends Desaval and Ambrosio. The two began to taking turns making monthly visits, staying four or five days to teach the catholic faith. They soon asked that a temporary shelter be built for them, and in 1909 this shelter became the first chapel in Ban Nong-Song-Yae. In 1913 the village and congregation increased to fifteen families. In 1914 war between Germany and France resulted in about ten French missionaries being recalled to serve in the army. The reverend Gantang was left responsible for a large area, assisted by the Catechist Nai Siang Tan who was responsible for Ban Nong-Song-Yae. I By 1919 the congregation had increased to 400. A second church was built that was used for only three or four years before it proved too small. The third, built like a big terrace house with a wooden roof, bamboo walls, and six rooms, was located near Nong-Kai-Pig. Fire damaged four of the rooms, after which the congregation repaired and enlarged it, and located a priest's residence nearby.

In 1925, some Catholics from Ban-Dong-Ma-Fai joined the community at Song-Yae. In 1933 – 34, six catholic families resettled in Ban-Phon-Sung in Udon Thani Province. In 1938, the reverend Degueir lead ten villagers to resettle at Ban-Khok-Khi-Nak, Nong Phok, Roi Et Province. In 1955 – 56 some families resettled in Ban San-Ti-Suk, Phetchabun Province. Some Song-Yae families moved a mere 10 kilometers to Ban Nong-Kae. As of 2006, there were about 200 Catholics in the community with a small chapel and St. Anthony, that remain under the pastoral care of the parish priest of St. Michael.

The Reverence Deguir's memoir says the villagers supplied the reverend Alazard with 60 cartloads of wood in 1936 for the construction of a new building, but the wood was confiscated by authorities. In 1947, under the direction of the reverence Montree, plans were laid for a church made of timber 57 meters long and 16 meters wide. The wooden, Thai-style church building was completed by skilled carpenters in 1953. On Sunday, 25 April 1954, the Reverend Bishop Chaudius Baye presided over and celebrated the inauguration and consecration of the fourth wooden church of St. Michael.

The main sanctuary is constructed of timber in a classic Thai style, and is billed as the Largest Wooden church in Thailand. It has been designated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as a site Unseen in Thailand.

The Church is still active today. The third restoration for the 2008 centennial was followed in 2009 by the opening of a museum dedicated to the memory of the church's founder, the Reverend Desaval.

Heritage designation

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has designated the church as a unique cultural heritage site of the sort Unseen in Thailand.

• Saint Michael

• Yasothon Attractions: Songyae Church
• Songyae Wittaya School (Thai)
• Photo gallery