From Tuesday 4 August to Friday 7 August 2026, the long-awaited structural assessment of Bokor Church was carried out on site. This careful study was an indispensable first step before any serious renovation of a building now approaching its centenary.
The work was undertaken by JEB Surveys & Engineering. Head engineer Mrs Oem Sotheary sent a team of four male engineers led by Mr Phirun Kan. They were welcomed at the summit by Bong Sovanna of our steering committee and Michael Phi Long of the communication team, who documented another concrete milestone on the road to restoration.
True to the proposal, almost no stone was left unexamined. Walls, roof and foundations proved to be in remarkably good condition after decades of abandonment. When the cement plaster was carefully removed inside, beautiful carved stones reappeared. Yet countless infiltrations have left the interior with alarming levels of humidity that must be addressed. Access to the roof—both from inside the bell tower and from the external scaffolding—brought two surprises. On the third level of the tower, never previously reached by our team, an improvised campsite was discovered: mattress, pillow, mosquito net and water still in place. We tip our hats to the solitary mystic who once climbed there. The second surprise was the unexpected solidity of the concrete roof and its gutters. Covered only by moss, with no trees or roots invading the structure, it remains sound—yet the urgent need for repair is unmistakable. Donors will understand the sense of urgency this discovery confirms.
Father Will Conquer and Hervé de Reynald, a parishioner from Kampot, remained with the operational team throughout the week for close follow-up. On the final day Mrs Sotheary herself arrived with three female colleagues for a concluding inspection. The atmosphere was one of deep gratitude and quiet pride at standing at the beginning of this new chapter.
The week also brought a steady stream of pilgrims. Father Étienne Lorta came with the high-school students of the Catholic mission in Chomlak (Apostolic Prefecture of Kampong Cham). Together we celebrated the feast of Saint John Mary Vianney and gave thanks for the gift of the priesthood at the nearby Catholic Church in Kampot. We were equally glad to welcome Sister Faustine, a recent Khmer convert baptised during her studies in France, who has since given her life to Christ and His Church. She arrived with her sister and their elderly parents, who were visibly moved to see the old church of Bokor for the first time. Once again the mountain has shown itself to be a living place of pilgrimage for Khmer Catholics; it cannot be left to crumble.
A further visit brought particular joy: Steve Hyde, an evangelical missionary and long-time friend of Cambodia since the 1990s, came with characteristic enthusiasm and support for the spiritual renewal of Bokor. His presence was a quiet reminder that this project can also become a sign of unity and communion among Christians in Cambodia.
We express our sincere thanks to the management of Thansur Estate for the generous loan of solid metallic scaffolding that made safe access to the roof possible, and to Sokha Bokor Hotel for providing comfortable accommodation for the team throughout the week.
The structural assessment is complete. The building has spoken: solid at its core, yet calling for careful, urgent care. The work of restoration can now advance with clearer knowledge and renewed hope.
