St. Peter's Church, Malacca

St. Peter's Church
Gereja St. Peter
Basic information
Location Malacca City, Malacca, Malaysia
Affiliation Catholicism
Website stpetersmelaka.org
Architectural description
Architectural type Church
Completed 1710
St. Peter's Church interior

The St. Peter's Church (Malay: Gereja St. Peter) is a church in Malacca City, Malacca, Malaysia. It is the oldest functioning Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia.

History

The Portuguese occupation of Malacca ended when Malacca felt into the Dutch in 1641. This was followed by period of prosecutions of the Catholics in Malacca by the Dutch. Churches were destroyed and Catholics were not permitted to have their own cemeteries or even pray in their homes. Priests were also forbidden to administer their flocks. The war of the Spanish Succession resulted in an alliance formed between the Portuguese and the Dutch in 1703. This resulted the Dutch adopted a softer stance towards the Portuguese Catholics. After years of prosecutions, a piece of land was donated to a Dutch convert and the St. Peter's Church was built in 1710.[1]

Architecture

The facade and decorations of the church have a combination of eastern and western architecture. One of its bells was casted in Goa in 1608 and was salvaged from an older church the Dutch had burnt down. There is also an alabaster statue of the Lord Before the Resurrection.[2]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Peter's Church, Melaka.

References

  1. Administrator. "St Peter's Church Melaka Malaysia - History - About Us". stpetersmelaka.org.
  2. "St. Peter’s Church". AmazingMelaka.com.

Coordinates: 2°12′08.8″N 102°15′11.4″E / 2.202444°N 102.253167°E / 2.202444; 102.253167

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