- Address: Gereja Christ, Jalan Gereja, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
- Phone: +60 17-824 6391
- Discovery: 1753
In the south-west of Malacca , on the coast of the Malacca River, there is a bright brick-red building - the ancient Protestant church of Christ. It is one of the most popular and photographed objects of the city. That is why every tourist who comes to Malacca is obliged to visit the church of Christ.
History of the Church of Christ in Malacca
In 1641, the city passed from the Portuguese Empire to Holland, which was the reason for the ban on Roman Catholicism in its territory. The Church of St. Paul was renamed Bovenkerk and served as the main church of the city. In 1741, in honor of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Dutch authorities, it was decided to build a new cathedral in Malacca. In 1824, in honor of signing an agreement on the transition of the city under the leadership of the British East India Company, the cathedral in Malacca was renamed the Church of Christ.
Until the beginning of the XX century the building was painted in white, which favorably distinguished it against the background of neighboring buildings. In 1911, the color of the church of Christ in Malacca was changed to red, which became her business card.
The architectural style of the Church of Christ in Malacca
The structure has a rectangular shape. With a ceiling height of 12 m, its length is 25 m and its width is 13 m. The Church of Christ in Malacca was built in the Dutch colonial style. That's why its walls were erected from Dutch bricks, and the roof is covered with Dutch tiles. To finish the floors of the Church of Christ in Malacca, granite blocks were used, which originally served as a ballast on merchant ships.
The decoration of the cathedral's windows was taken after the capture of the city by the British authorities. In this case, the original windows were significantly reduced in size. The porch and sacristy of the Church of Christ in Malacca were erected only by the middle of the XIX century.
Artifacts of the Church of Christ in Malacca
The oldest Protestant cathedral of the city is interesting not only for its unusual architectural style, but also for its rich collection of religious artifacts. Visitors to the Church of Christ in Malacca have the opportunity to get acquainted with such ancient exhibits as:
- Church bell. This object dates back to 1698.
- Altar Bible. It is known for its brass cover, on which the words 1: 1 from John in Dutch are engraved.
- Silver altar vessels. This artifact belongs to the early Dutch period. Despite the fact that the vessels are at the disposal of the church, they are stored in the vault and are rarely exhibited for public viewing.
- Memorial plaques and plates. They represent pavement blocks, on which are inscribed the inscriptions in Portuguese, English and Armenian.
In the Church of Christ in Malacca, you can sit on 200-year-old benches, buy souvenirs and church paraphernalia, thereby making a donation for its development. The entrance to the temple is free.
How to get to the church of Christ?
In order to get acquainted with this architectural monument, you should go to the south-western part of the city. The Church of Christ in Malacca is located next to Jalan Laksamana Avenue and the Queen Victoria Fountain. Tourists traveling by car can get from the city center to the facility in less than 10 minutes. To do this, go south on Route 5, or Jalan Chan Koon Cheng.
Fans of hiking are better to choose the road Jalan Panglima Awang. In this case, the entire journey to the Church of Christ in Malacca will take approximately 50 minutes. Next to it, also stops bus number 17, the next from the central station.