Churches, Melaka

At the foot of St. Paul's Hill sits yet another bright red building, facing one end of the main square. This is Christ Church. Its pink brinks are said to have been specially brought in from Zeeland in Holland. Upon arrival in 1753 when construction work on the church began, they were faced with the local laterite soil, which gave it its bright red hue.

Built to commemorate a century of Dutch rule in Malacca, this church has an extremely simple design without any aisles or chancel. However, this simplicity is offset by the wonderful hand-carved pews and the massive 15-metre long timber beams supporting its roof - they were each cut from a single tree.

Mounted on its walls are some decorative fanlights and plaques in memory of those who died of various epidemics. Yet another plaque, a wooden one, sits at the rear of the western wall remembering local planters who did not live through World War II.

When the British took over Malacca, the church was converted for Anglican worship and the weathercock and bell tower were subsequently added. Fortunately, the British did not do away with the old Dutch tombstones that were laid in the floor and they remind visitors that Christ Church was originally a Dutch structure.

This church is in the city center and one of the first things you'll notice when you get here. It's huge, and painted red, as are the other buildings here. Built in 1753, Christ Church is still in use today, and you can see tombstones and glazed tiles inside.

If you have a passion for architecture, this church is a place not to be missed. When you look closely, you will be able to see the handmade pews and ceiling beams that had been constructed without joints. Other exquisite features include the Brass Bible, the tombstone written in American and the glazed tiles of "Last Supper".

Built in 1753, the Christ Church is situated along Jalan Gereja and is just adjacent to The Stadthuys.

At the entrance of Christ Church, an artist is selling some of his T-shirt creation of Melaka. About RM15 to RM20 per piece. You can also choose some old coins or memorabilia of Melaka as souvenirs.

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"Greetings! you who are reading this tablet of my tomb in which I now sleep. Give me the news, the freedom of my countrymen, for them I did much weep. If there arose among them one good guardian to govern and keep. Vainly I expected the world to see a good shepherd came to look after the scattered sheep."
(Translation from a Tombstone, found off the floor on Christchurch, Melaka)

Now, if you look carefully on the floor of Christ Church in Melaka, you'll discover that it is lined with ancient tombstones. Inscribed on these tombstones little cryptic messages written in Portuguese that beckon every unwary parishioner. Since it is unlikely that the Dutch would have used Catholic-Portuguese tombstones inside their church, Malaysian historians concluded that they were installed there by the British.

Another must do in Melaka ! Visit the oldest protestant church in M'sia , right at the Dutch Square

Just around the corner, not too far from the fountain in Dutch Square is probably the oldest protestant church in Malaysia. This is a church was built sometime in 1753 by the Dutch and it is as much a Melakan icon as the fountain and the clock tower. If you do venture inside, look out for the beams with no joints, the hand-made pews dated some 200 years and the tiled artwork of the 'Last Supper' at the altar . Look out too, for the tombstones incorporated into the floor of the church, most of which are written in Portuguese.

This church was built in 1753 and is also located among the Dutch building complex.
Standing exactly as it has always been since 1753, the church is testimony to Dutch's architectural ingenuity. Take note of the church's handmade pews, ceiling beams constructed without joints, Brass Bible, tombstone written in Armenian and 'Last Supper' in glazed tiles.

This is the unmistakeable landmark of Melaka, buses stops here from the main bus station ( which cost RM 0.50 ) ( look for bus no 17 )

The church is striking from the outside, thus setting the tone of the surrounding , but when we walked into the church , we were quite dissappointed because it is rather simple. So dont have high expectation :-)

Model : Romain from France

Christ Church is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia as well the most famous landmark in Melaka. Construction began in 1741 on the centennial of the Dutch occupation, and it was completed in 1753. Prior to this date, the Dutch used the old Portuguese church atop St. Paul's hill. Christ Church bears all the hallmarks of 18th-century Dutch architecture: a rectangular plan, massive walls, red granite plinths, and Dutch roof tiles. The pews are original, as are the windows, but were later reduced in size by the British in the 19th century. The church bell is inscribed with the date 1698, suggesting that it was used for another purpose before the church's completion. Most puzzling are the Portuguese tombstones incorporated into the floor of the church, which were originally in St. Paul's Church inside the Portuguese fortress. However, they were removed by the Dutch when they occupied Melaka in 1641. Since it is unlikely that the highly Protestant Dutch would have used Catholic tombstones inside a Protestant church, historians surmise that they were installed there later by the British.