Christ Church Melaka

What is probably the singular most memorable landmark in Melaka is the Christ Church. This church is colored brick red just like the buildings in the area. It stands in on of the corners of the town square of Melaka. It does look a bit strange why the church was built so near the Sungei Melaka (Melaka River). If a lot of people are expected since it is a town square, won’t it have made more sense to put this place in a more open area?

The facade of the Christ Church it not really noteworthy considering that it was built in an age where fancy buildings were built. Old Catholic church tend to be a bit more grand in their construction with ornate facades and interior. The Christ Church on the other hands tends to a more simple design with the very prominent name of the church emblazoned in front.

One would need a little history lesson before appreciating the relics in Melaka. The first western colonizers of Melaka were the Portuguese, they were then followed by the Dutch in the mid 1600s. The British took over the Dutch in administering Melaka, until Malaysia itself became an independent nation. If would be immediately obvious that the numerous transitions had some effect on Melaka. The church was one of them.

Christ Church was built by the Dutch in 1753, using bricks imported from the home country. I wonder how special those bricks were having to import them from so far away. When the British took over the Dutch, the church was converted into an Anglican Church, to which it remains to this day. The interiors of the church were not really awe-inspiring. Not only that, photographs were forbidden inside the church. At the time of my visit there was a group of school kids on an excursion. There was a small store selling religious items inside the church itself.

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