St. Peter's Church (Melaka)

Last updated
St. Peter's Church
Gereja St. Peter (Malay)
St. Peter's Church, Melaka.jpg
St. Peter's Church (Melaka)
Location166 Jalan Bendahara
Melaka
Country Malaysia
Denomination Roman Catholic
Tradition Latin Rite
History
Dedication Saint Peter
Architecture
Architectural type Church
Style Colonial Dutch Baroque architecture
Completed1710
Administration
Parish Malacca Vicariate Forane (under Roman Catholic Diocese of Malacca-Johor)
St. Peter's Church interior St Peter Church Melaka 1.jpg
St. Peter's Church interior

St. Peter's Church (Malay : Gereja St. Peter) is a church in Melaka City, Melaka, Malaysia. It is the oldest functioning Roman Catholic church in Malaysia [1] and the third largest catholic church in Melaka after Church of St. Francis Xavier (Melaka) and St Theresa in Gajah Berang.

Contents

History

The Portuguese occupation of Melaka ended when Melaka fell to the Dutch in 1641. [2] This was followed by period of persecutions of the Catholics in Melaka 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 from administering their flocks. The War of the Spanish Succession resulted in an alliance formed between the Portuguese and the Dutch in 1703. This resulted in the Dutch adopting a softer stance towards the Portuguese Catholics. After years of persecutions, a piece of land was donated by a Dutch convert named Maryber Franz Amboer in the District of Saba in which the first priest, Fr. Domingos Monteiro, named it after the patron saint of fishermen for the Portuguese Catholic and thus St. Peter's Church was built in 1710. [3]

Above the front balcony of the presbytery, the Republic of Portugal crest was worked into the masonry of the façade. For about a century, there were few changes made to the grounds of the Church of St Peter — the Sacristan's quarter was built, a small hall for functions added alongside the presbytery and the field levelled and turned into a car park. Subsequently, a parish hall was erected on a large portion of the car park and extensive restoration of the church was undertaken to mark its tercentenary celebration in 2010. Recently, landscaping was done to beautify the grounds, and modern amenities were put in place in the church. St Peter's was a Portuguese mission church for almost three centuries, served by 64 priests from Portugal, Goa, and Macau, It only came under the ecclesial jurisdiction of the Bishops of the Portuguese Missions after the country's independence in 1957. [4]

Architecture

Facade of the Church Of St Peter At Night St Peter at night.jpg
Facade of the Church Of St Peter At Night

The facade and decorations of the church have a combination of eastern and western architecture. There is also a hint of Portuguese baroque architecture on the facade. Its interior features the original high altar, numerous stained glass window, a barrel-vaulted ceiling and two side Altars dedicated to the Sacred Heart and Mary, along with the original transept dedicated to Christ's Passion, where there is also an alabaster statue of the Lord Before the Resurrection in which the practice originates from the Dominican church of St Lawrence at the present ruins of Capella Ermida de Rosario. [5]

One of its bells was cast in Goa in 1608 and was salvaged from an older church the Dutch had burnt down, possibly from that of St Lawrence Church - one of the few churches built in the early 1600s [6] located outside the city walls during the Portuguese era. A chapel now stands on its site built in 1700 known as Capella Ermida de Rosario or also known as St Lawrence Chapel.

Chapels Under St Peter's Church Jurisdication

There are several chapels under St Peter's jurisdiction:-

Capella Ermida de Rosario, Saba District

Capella Ermida de Rosario Capella Ermida de Rosario.jpg
Capella Ermida de Rosario

Before St Peter's church was built, a substitute chapel was constructed on the grounds of the ruins of St Lawrence Church known as Ermida de Rosario, or also known as the Rosary Chapel in 1700. The chapel was used for services until the late 1900s when its decline became obvious with the more preferable St Peter's church being nearby. Several dignities were laid to rest in the chapel including Emerici de Souza's tombstone being the only one present until today.

Talks on the rebuilding of the chapel surfaced in 2015 [7] but no work has been done as of 2024. However, St Peter's Church's rector, Fr. Lionel Thomas, has placed a blue cross to mark the site and several services have been conducted occasionally at the site of the ruins.

Assumption Chapel, Praya Lane

Assumption Chapel on Praya Lane during Christmas Assumption Chapel, Praya Lane.jpg
Assumption Chapel on Praya Lane during Christmas

The Assumption Chapel was initially built in 1850 as a wooden chapel before being rebuilt and extended into to cross-shape of its present form in 1919. The chapel was constructed for the Portuguese community originally living in the Praya Lane area and still functions today. The chapel features a black St Anthony statue erected in 1959 [8] as well as the statue of Our Lady Of The Assumption, facing the sea. The chapel also features 2 side altars and stained glass at the altar.

St John Chapel, Praya Lane

The original photo of St John's Chapel on Praya Lane The original St John The Baptist Chapel on Praya Lane.png
The original photo of St John's Chapel on Praya Lane

The Chapel of St. John the Baptist, [9] built on land donated by the De Souza family in 1864, was completed and consecrated by Fr. François Allard, the parish priest of St. Francis Xavier Church. The chapel was used as a chapel cum kindergarten for almost 100 years before it was deconsecrated and demolished in 1960 after further expansion was carried out onto Assumption Chapel a few meters down Praya Lane.

Capella de Santa Cruz, Malim Hill

Capella Santa Cruz, or Santa Cruz Chapel was built in 1850 in honour of the holy cross found on Malim hill after some accounts tell of a devout Catholic lady from Kubu who fell ill. All possible medical aid was given to her to no avail. One night in her dream, an old man appeared and told her that a cross would be found on top of Malim Hill. A couple of days later, with the assistance of neighbours, the woman's family found a 46 cm cross on the hill partially covered by a termite nest. The chapel holds a feast day every September for pilgrims to venerate the holy cross, which was said to be chipped off due to the greediness of people over the years, but has since been preserved.

Capella Nossa Senhora de Consengsang, Portuguese Settlement

Capella Nossa Senhora de Consengsang, Melaka Capella Nossa Senhora de Consengsang, Melaka.jpg
Capella Nossa Senhora de Consengsang, Melaka

Built in 2010, it is located behind the Portuguese Square within the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir. It is also commonly referred to as the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in English. The festival of San Pedro is now held here yearly in June in honour of St Peter, the patron saint for the Portuguese who settle here. The chapel features 2 piece of stained glass as the main backdrop for the altar. [10]

Sacred Heart Chapel, Tengkera

This chapel was built in the early 1800s for the Catholics in Tengkera, which was however abandoned in 1960s due to expiring of lease of the land in which the chapel stands. The building still stands today but is now under private property.

Further Information

St Peter's church is a still functional church. Please do maintain proper dress code prior to visit.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice</span> Church in Venice, Italy

The Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, known in Venetian as San Zanipolo, is a Catholic minor basilica and Dominican conventual church in the Castello sestiere of Venice, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai</span> Church in Tamil Nadu, India

San Thome Church, officially known as St Thomas Cathedral Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Thomas, is a minor basilica of the Catholic Church in India, at the Santhome neighbourhood of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. The present structure dates back to 1523 AD, when it was built by the Portuguese over the tomb of Thomas the Apostle. In 1896, it was renovated in the Madras province according to neo-Gothic designs, as was favoured by British architects in the late 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of St. Lawrence, Asheville</span> Catholic minor basilica in Asheville, North Carolina

The Minor Basilica of St. Lawrence the Deacon & Martyr is a minor basilica of the Catholic Church in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, United States. The church was designed and built in 1905 by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino along with his fellow architect R. S. Smith and the Catholic community of Asheville. Pope John Paul II elevated the status of the church to minor basilica in 1993. It is a parish church, located within the Diocese of Charlotte. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the only basilica in western North Carolina. Its dome, inspired by the Basilica de los Desamparados of Valencia, has a span of 58 by 82 feet, and is reputed to be the largest, freestanding, elliptical dome in North America. The architectural style is Spanish Renaissance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré</span> Church in Nazaré, Portugal

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré is a Marian shrine that memorializes an ancient miracle that occurred under the intercession of the Virgin Mary. It is located on the hilltop called O Sítio, overlooking Nazaré, in Portugal, and was founded in the 14th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vannes Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic Church

Vannes Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Peter in Vannes, Brittany, France. The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Vannes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prato Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic cathedral in Prato, Tuscany, Italy

Prato Cathedral, or Cathedral of Saint Stephen, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prato, Tuscany, Central Italy, from 1954 the seat of the Bishop of Prato, having been previously, from 1653, a cathedral in the Diocese of Pistoia and Prato. It is dedicated to Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints' Church, Urmston</span> Church in Urmston, England

All Saints' Church is a Roman Catholic parish church situated between Dumplington and Barton upon Irwell, near Urmston, in Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. The church was constructed between 1867 and 1868 and was designed by E. W. Pugin in the Gothic Revival style for Sir Humphrey de Trafford. It is situated on Redclyffe Road, close to the Manchester Ship Canal. The church is a Grade I listed building and considered to be an example of Pugin's best work, according to Nikolaus Pevsner, "the masterpiece of [Pugin's] life, without any doubt." It has been served by priests from the Conventual Franciscans since 1928.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint-Laurent, Paris</span> Church in France

Saint-Laurent is a Catholic church in the 10th arrondissement of Paris at 68 bis Boulevard de Magenta. A series of churches occupied the site since the 10th century. It is named for Saint Lawrence, an early Christian martyr who was executed in Rome by the Roman Emperor Valerian in 258 AD. It has been listed since 2016 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church of St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith</span> Roman Catholic diocesan shrine and parish church in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Manchester, UK

The Catholic Church of St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith is a Roman Catholic parish church located on Liverpool Road in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester, England, which is a Grade II-listed building and includes the Diocesan Shrine of St Edmund Arrowsmith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Saint Paul, Malacca</span> Historic church in Malacca, Malaysia

Saint Paul's Church is a historic church building in Malacca City, Malaysia, that was originally built from 1566 to 1590. It is the oldest European building east of India. It is located on the summit of St. Paul's Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral of Petrópolis</span> Roman Catholic cathedral in Petrópolis, Brazil

The Cathedral of Saint Peter of Alcantara, also known as the Cathedral of Petrópolis, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Petrópolis, Brazil, dedicated to the city's patron saint, Peter of Alcantara. The cathedral is also the final resting place of the last Emperor of Brazil, Dom Pedro II, and his family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santo Rosario de Pasig Church</span> Roman Catholic church in Pasig, Philippines

Santo Rosario de Pasig Church, formerly known as Immaculate Conception Parish, is a Roman Catholic church in Pasig, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Pasig. The jurisdiction of the parish is as follows: Santolan (North), Marikina River (West), Maybunga San Miguel (South), Cainta, Rizal (East). The church enshrines the 19th century Virgin Mary, said to be different among others, for she has a moon underneath her feet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria Maggiore della Pietrasanta</span> Church in Campania, Italy

The church of Santa Maria Maggiore della Pietrasanta is a Roman Catholic religious edifice located on Via Tribunali in central Naples, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory</span> Catholic parish church in London

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory is a Catholic church on Warwick Street, Westminster. It is the oldest Catholic church in England. It was formerly known as the Royal Bavarian Chapel, because like several Catholic churches in London it originated as a chapel within a foreign embassy. It was built between 1789 and 1790 to the designs of Joseph Bonomi the Elder. The only surviving eighteenth-century Catholic chapel in London, it is a Grade II* listed building. The parish is now operated by the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, the British personal ordinariate for the Anglican Use within the Catholic Church, and acts as its central church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St. Francis Xavier (Melaka)</span> Church in Melaka City, Melaka State, Malaysia

The Church of St. Francis Xavier is a church in Malacca City, Malacca, Malaysia. It is the largest church in Melaka. It is also the third oldest church after St. Peter's Church (Melaka) and Christ Church, Malacca

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Churches and convents of Goa</span> Indian World Heritage site

Churches and Convents of Goa is the name given by UNESCO to a set of religious monuments located in Goa Velha, in the state of Goa, India, which were declared a World Heritage Site in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Gloucester</span> Church in Gloucester, United Kingdom

St Peter's Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church in Gloucester, Gloucestershire. It was built from 1860 to 1868 and designed by Gilbert Blount. It is situated on the corner of London Road and Black Dog Way in the centre of the city. It is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Aberdeen</span> Church in Aberdeen, United Kingdom

St Peter's Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was built from 1803 and opened in 1804. It is situated on Justice Street between Peacock's Close and Market Stance, next to St Andrew's Cathedral in the centre of the city. It was the first permanent Roman Catholic Church to be built in Aberdeen after the Reformation and is a category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Caterina, Palermo</span> Roman Catholic church in Sicily, Italy

Santa Caterina d'Alessandria or Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a Roman Catholic church with a main facade on Piazza Bellini, and a lateral Western facade facing the elaborate Fontana Pretoria, in the historic quarter of Kalsa in the city of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. In front of the main facade, across the piazza Bellini, rise the older churches of San Cataldo and Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, while across Piazza Pretoria is the Theatine church of San Giuseppe and the entrance to the Quattro Canti. Refurbished over the centuries, the church retains elements and decorations from the Renaissance, Baroque, and late-Baroque (Rococo) eras. This church is distinct from the Oratorio di Santa Caterina found in the Olivella neighborhood.

St Patrick's Church is a Roman Catholic church in the Beaumont Leys area of Leicester. The current church building dates from 1959, built to accommodate Leicester's growing Catholic population, although the parish was first created in 1854. The current church building is in the Romanesque style with three distinctive domes in the nave of the church. A stained glass window depicting Saint Patrick, the parish patron, stands at the back of the church. The current parish priest is Father Raphael Imoni, who arrived at St Patrick's in September 2018. The church serves St Patrick's Catholic Voluntary Academy and English Martyrs Catholic School.

References

  1. "St Peter's strives to be a loving parish". Herald Malaysia. 6 January 2023.
  2. Victor Lieberman (2003). Strange Parallels: Volume 2, Mainland Mirrors: Europe, Japan, China, South Asia, and the Islands: Southeast Asia in Global Context, C.800-1830. Cambridge University Press. pp. 844–. ISBN   978-0-521-82352-4.
  3. Administrator. "St Peter's Church Melaka Malaysia - History - About Us". stpetersmelaka.org.
  4. https://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/church-of-st-peter/67776/1
  5. "St. Peter's Church". AmazingMelaka.com.
  6. "Ruins of Ermida de Rosario Melaka". malaysia-traveller.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  7. https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/98429/nation-s-oldest-466-year-old-chapel-to-be-restored/
  8. https://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/tribute-to-black-st-anthony-at-praya-lane-melaka/19998/5
  9. https://www.prayalane.com/timeline
  10. https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/07/15/melaka039s-san-pedro-festival-celebrates-identity-culture-and-fishing-heritage

2°12′08.8″N102°15′11.4″E / 2.202444°N 102.253167°E / 2.202444; 102.253167