CHRIST CHURCH MELAKA

You can't miss it. Christ Church Melaka (CCM) is the imposing red building with a huge white cross in the middle. It is located at Jalan Gereja (Church Street) adjacent to the Stadhuys and surrounded by beautiful landscape of greeneries, flowers and a Victorian fountain.

Christ Church Melaka is the oldest functioning Prostestant Church in South East Asia and is the oldest church that is still in operation Malaysia. The building structure still stays the same including the handmade pews, windows, ceiling beams (constructed without joints), brass bible stand, tombstones and the 'Last Supper' in glazed tiles. Despite being 260 years old it is still serving the christian community in Melaka with services available in English and Chinese languages.

Christ Church was built by the Dutch. When the Dutch took over Melaka from the hands of the Portuguese, they built several buildings to serve their various needs. CCM was built as a place of worship as they did not have any church for themselves apart from the small chapel built by the Portuguese on top of St. Paul Hill.

The construction began in 1741 and it took a staggering 12 years to build this magnificent church. Its construction was finally completed in 1753. At that time, the church played a vital role as a place for the Dutch to pray and was known as the Dutch Reformed Church.

Later, when the British took over Melaka, they converted the original Dutch Reformed Church into an Anglican Church and that was in 1838. The Bishop of Calcutta, India consecrated the church to the rites of the Church of England and it was renamed Christ Church. They added the bell and weathercock on the church.

Christ Church Melaka is without a doubt an important piece of the history of Melaka and will continue to play an important role in bringing good news to the city, creating a community of faith where people of every race, nationality and culture gather as one in worship and service.

The church conducts weekly services in English and Chines and have various other activities such as the weekly 'cell group', Golden Circle, Youth Fellowship, Women Fellowship and more. Bahasa Malaysia service is available at Sg. Udang outreach centre and Tamil service at Masjid Tanah.

Pictures of Christ Church Melaka