A striking Buddha statue donated by Thailand’s royal family has become the centrepiece of Colchester’s new Dhamma Centre, a Buddhist-inspired wellness hub that opened earlier this year.
The centre, located in the former New Church building on Maldon Road, officially launched on 7 January after extensive renovations. Once earmarked for demolition and redevelopment into housing, the 102-year-old site has instead been transformed into a space for meditation, yoga and community wellbeing.
Chief monk Bhante Pannavamsa, who leads the centre, revealed that the statue was gifted by the royal Thai temple and the royal family of Thailand. “The Buddha statue from Thailand came in as a well-wisher,” he explained, adding that it took 20 people to carefully position the heavy figure in the main hall.
The donation reflects the monk’s long-standing ties across Asia, built during years of teaching meditation and mindfulness in Burma and Thailand. He said the project drew strong interest from supporters once news spread that the former church was being converted into a spiritual and wellness space.
The Dhamma Centre now hosts retreats, yoga classes, sound ball healing and free weekly meditation sessions. Its main hall can accommodate up to 90 people, while a second hall caters for smaller groups. Plans are underway to expand activities further, including men’s wellness groups and a lobby space for independent businesses promoting healthy living.
For Colchester, the arrival of the Thai royal statue marks not only a cultural gift but also a symbolic bridge between traditions. The centre’s blend of mindfulness practice and community events is already drawing interest, with workshops such as lucid dreaming expert Charlie Morley’s session scheduled for later this month.
In the words of Bhante Pannavamsa, the statue is more than decoration—it is a gesture of goodwill, anchoring a new chapter for a historic building and offering a focal point for those seeking calm in the heart of the city.
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