That Time That The Bell Tower at First Church Chiang Mai Was Used as a Gun Turret
During World War II, Japanese troops seized church properties in Thailand, including schools and hospitals. The bell tower of historic First Church, Chiang Mai was used to mount an anti-aircraft gun. Though some institutions stayed open, Thai Christians were under intense pressure during the war and needed to meet quietly in private homes since public worship was banned.
The building in this drawing is the original church building (google map location) which is currently used by a Christian school. It was drawn from the memory of Kru Sanoh Chikarat (ครูเสนาะ ชิกรัตน์), an art teacher at the Prince Royal's College in Chiang Mai who was a student at the time of the war. The bell tower was built with only a deck until it was topped off with roof and a cross in 1923. During the Japanese invasion, troops removed the roof and cross in order to mount the gun. After the war, the roof and cross were replaced and remain to this day. In the late 1960s, the congregation of First Church moved to a building just up the street (google map location).
Image Source: Historical Hall at First Church Chiang Mai, Thailand