Country Malaysia Tradition Latin Rite Opened 1710 Dedication Saint Peter | Denomination Roman Catholic Completed 1710 Phone +60 6-282 2950 Architectural type Church | |
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Location 166 Jalan Bendahara
Malacca Address 166, Lorong Bendahara, Kampung Bukit China, 75100 Melaka, Malaysia Similar Church of St Francis Xavier - M, Hang Li Poh's Well, Christ Church - Malacca, Stadthuys, St Paul's Church - Malacca | ||
Palm sunday procession at st peter s church malacca 23 march 2013
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.
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History
The Portuguese occupation of Malacca ended when Malacca felt into the Dutch in 1641. This was followed by period of persecutions 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 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 and the St. Peter's Church was built in 1710.
Architecture
The facade and decorations of the church have a combination of eastern and western architecture. One of its bells was cast 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.