These are lists of church buildings in Indonesia, based on:
Completion year of the building
Region
Around 10.5% of Indonesia's total population are Christians, and there are approximately 76,517 churches across Indonesia.[1] This list strictly includes notable church buildings and their historic significance in Indonesian history.
In Indonesia, church buildings in the first stage of their creation were simple, shed-like structures built from bamboo or wood. Once sizable congregations had been established, more permanent buildings were erected, which seated hundreds or even over a thousand.[2]
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Indonesia. They sought to dominate the sources of valuable spices[4] and extend the Roman Catholic Church's missionary efforts. Although the most well-known missionary in the archipelago at the time was Saint Francis Xavier, from Navarre, Spain. The mission began in 1534 when some chiefs from Morotai came to Ternate asking to be baptised. He later returned to Moluccas and spent his time at Halmahera, Ternate and Amboina in 1546–1547, baptizing several thousand locals.[5]
Dutch documents state that nearly all inhabitants of Ambon were Catholics, introduced by the Portuguese Jesuits, mostly arrived from Goa. Ambon had four fine church buildings and a small hospital, La Misericordia. The Jesuit Church of St. James was from mid-1605 used for Protestant services. In 1630 it was replaced by a stone building called St. Paul's Church.[6]
Catholicism in Indonesia came into a dark age when the Protestant-Dutch VOC defeated the Portuguese and took over their possession at Mollucas in 1605 and Solor in 1613. Dutch East India Company or Vereniging Oost Indie Compagnie (VOC) suppressed the Catholic religion within their conquered territories and banned any Catholic missionary activities. Many Catholics were forcibly converted to Protestantism and Catholic churches were changed for Protestant purposes. As a result of their successful campaign in the East Indies and strong sentiment against the Catholics, many of the earliest surviving well-documented church buildings in the Indonesian archipelago are Protestant churches; most of them are concentrated along the north coast of Java and the islands of Moluccas.
Enslaved Catholics are also encouraged to adopt Protestantism and Dutch sounding names. This happened to the Mardijker people (who were a Portuguese speaking creole group) in Batavia and Depok. Catholicism didn't have any particular rights in Indonesia until 1808 under governor general Daendels, during the French occupation of the Netherlands.
In Batavia, few of the earliest Protestant church structures in Indonesia are well documented. The first church building in the city was a provisional church, erected in 1625 together with the earlier city hall. In 1632 the foundation for a proper church was laid. This was followed by the first stone to be laid in 1640 and the building, known as Oude Hollandse Kerk ("Old Holland Church"), was finished in 1643.[7] The Old Holland Church was later expanded and renamed "Nieuw Hollandse kerk" ("New Holland Church") in 1736. The new church was shaped octagonally according to Calvinism's focus on the sermon and had a domed roof.[8] The church was toppled by an earthquake in 1808, and the remains were completely demolished by Governor General Daendels to obtain building materials for a new government center in Weltevreden. The base of the church can be seen in the Wayang Museum.
In 1644, Governor General Antonio van Diemen built a chapel in Batavia Castle at his own expense. Already in 1633, a simple wooden church with straw roof had been built for services in Malay. The Portuguese Binnenkerk (Portuguese church inside the city walls) was built between 1669 and 1672, initially for Malay services, but also to meet the needs of the Portuguese-speaking Christians. Another Portuguese-language church was built outside the city walls in 1695, the Portuguese Buitenkerk, now Gereja Sion, the oldest surviving church building in Indonesia.
On 18 May 1696, a former VOC officer Cornelis Chastelein bought the land with an area of 12.44 km2, 6.2% the area of today's Depok. There he established the first of its kind in Java, a Protestant congregation consisting of native Indonesians which was named De Eerste Protestante Organisatie van Christenen (DEPOC). A Protestant church [id], dating back to 1714, can still be seen standing. Its church bell was made in 1675.[9]
In 1799 VOC officially went bankrupt and was dissolved in 1800 with its possessions taken over by the Dutch crown as the Dutch East Indies. Later in 1817, the Dutch government founded the Protestantsche Kerk in Nederlandsch-Indie ("Indische Kerk") as a union of Reformed, Lutheran, Baptists, Arminian and Mennonite denominations.[10] During the 18th to 19th century the new architectural trends were Neoclassical architecture. Examples of these were Batavia's Immanuel Church, Semarang's Blenduk Church and GKJ Mojowarno.
Missionary activities increased with territorial gain. Works were mostly aimed to convert native Animist population such as the Bataks, Torajans, Minahasans, Papuans and Dayaks (who today form the Christian majority of both Catholic and Protestant). These missionaries established many mission churches, schools and institutions across the country.
Apart from Art Deco as a form of modernism, there were also attempts by many Dutch architect to modernize the indigenous architecture by creating a synthesized form of architecture which combined Western architecture with indigenous Indonesian elements.[12] In 1936, Henri Maclaine Pont designed the Pohsarang Church in Kediri, which incorporated Hindu-Buddhist elements into a Western building.[12] This legacy lived on even after the independence of Indonesia, and was applied to various public buildings, including churches in the country. In 1972, native Balinese I Wayan Mastra became head of the Balinese Protestant church, and began a process of Balinization. When Blimbingsari church, a basic stone and wood building, was destroyed by earthquake in 1976, it was rebuilt in more Balinese pendopo style, with a garden with running water, traditional Balinese entrance and a semi-open aspect. A similar trend occurred in other islands, such as Batak Karo architecture of St. Francis Asisi's Church in Berastagi, and the Ganjuran Church, which used Javanese Joglo architecture.
Many Indonesian Protestants tend to congregate based more on ethnicity than liturgical differences. As a result, after the independence of Indonesia the Protestant Church in Indonesia (GPI) (formerly known as de Protestantsche Kerk in Nederlandsch-Indië or Indische Kerk) was broke down into various denominations based on ethnicity, resulting in a relatively higher number of Protestant denomination per capita in the country. This was also due to the cultural and languages preferences among each of the different ethnic groups in Indonesia.[13]
Although Protestantism and Catholicism are two of the six recognized religions in Indonesia, prosecution against Christians is common in the country. Many of the conflicts are linked to the extremist groups in the country. In 1999, the Maluku sectarian conflict occurred, a religion and ethnicity based violence which claimed many lives of both Muslims and Christians. During this event the historic Immanuel Church in Hila was destroyed; however, it was later rebuilt with the help of the Muslim community. Another church in Ambon was set on fire in 2011, forcing the people inside to flee.[14]
In December 2011, GKI Taman Yasmin had been sealed. Local authorities refused to lift a ban on the activities of the church, despite an order from the Supreme Court of Indonesia.[15] Local authorities persecuted the Christian church for four years. In 2013 another church in Bekasi was forced to shut down due to the lack of an official permit for building the premise.[16] While the state has ordered religious tolerance, it has not enforced these orders to protect the religious minority in the country.[17] Three churches were burned and damaged in Temanggung, Central Java in 2011, as Christians were accused of distributing pamphlets that were "insulting" Islam.[18]
In Aceh where Sharia law is applied, it is against Governor Regulation No. 25/2007 about Guidelines for the Construction of Houses of Worship. In the regulations, the construction of a church in Aceh requires 150 congregations to apply for a church construction permit.[19] Indonesia is also notorious for its church bombing by extremists on Christmas Eve of 2000.
Below is a list of oldest church buildings in Indonesia based on year of completion. To be listed here, the completion of the church building needs to be at least before the 20th century. Churches with alterations which completely changed their appearance after the 20th century should not be placed in this table.
The oldest church in Jakarta and possibly the oldest surviving church structure in Indonesia.[20] It contains a Baroquepipe organ from the 17th century, which was built in Taiwan.
The church was founded by zendeling A. Dijkstra who arrived on Cirebon in 1864. Later, the church moved into a small colonial building which has been built by the colonial government around 1788. The building is now a heritage building in Cirebon.[22]
The oldest church in the region, was known as "De Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk te Tandjoengpinang", the building was renovated in 1962 with some minor changes on the facade.
The first building was built between 1780 and 1781 during the governance of governor Bernardus van Pleuren. The first building was wooden, later rebuilt using a more permanent material in 1854. On 20 January 1999, the building was destroyed by arson during Maluku sectarian conflict, but soon was rebuilt without altering its original form.[25]
The church was established in the early year of Dutch colonization of the island, the old wooden church was destroyed by earthquake and rebuilt in 1852.
The church is the original wooden church building of Watumea, the first church in the city. The heritage wooden church was built in 1868 using local materials and was inaugurated on 8 December 1872. The design and construction were overseen by Hessel Rooker, a Dutch missionary. The church bell and other church appliances were imported from Germany. On 4 March 2003, the building was made a heritage building by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.[26]
Unknown foundation time. In 1876, Raja Stephanus Jacob Rehatta expanded the original building with permanent material. During the leadership of Leonard 8 Rehatta, the church was renovated in 1927. In 1996, the church was restored and made heritage building under the Maluku Department of History and Archeology. On 28 April 2002, riot occurred in Negeri Soya and the church was destroyed. The building was later rebuilt without altering the original form.
This church is part of Evangelist Church of Kalimantan [id], it was established by Germans missionary of Zending Bazel mission (Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft) in 1855.
The building of the church was pioneered by Kyai Paulus Tosari (Kasan Jariyo), early leader of the Mojowarno congregation. The first laying of the stone was done by Christina Chaterina Kruyt, daughter of the zendeling of Mojowarno at that time, Jan Kruyt, on 24 February 1879. The church was officially inaugurated on 8 March 1881. The church is the centre of a local harvest festival called Unduh-unduh annually enacted on May.
The oldest church established in Central Java, it was first built in 1753. The initial church building had a joglo-style. In 1894 it was renovated to current form with dome and two spire.[28]
The church was founded by Johan Gotlieb Schwarz to convert the local population of animistic belief (Alifuru) into Christianity. The first church was established on 18 April 1847. The current building was built and completed on top of the former church building on 18 April 1895.[29]
Oldest church in Surabaya. First built in 1822 as Maria Geboorte Kerk by Mgr Lambertus Prinsen, it was re-built to its current form in 1899 by Fr J van Zanten SJ, and was consecrated as Onze Lieve Vrouw Geboorte Kerk in 1900 by the Archbishop of Batavia, Mgr Edmundus Luypen SJ. It suffered fire damage during the Battle of Surabaya.
Below is a list of the largest church buildings in Indonesia, based on capacity. To be listed here, the building's capacity must exceed 5,000 and the building must be used exclusively for church-related activities.
GPIB Immanuel Church [id], Depok (1998, contain a bell dating back to 1675) (established in 1714, destroyed by earthquake in 1834 and rebuilt in 1854, later expanded in 1980 and 1998 due to overcapacity)[53]
GPIB Penabur Church, Surakarta (1980) (The church was built over an older Calvinist church known as Indische Kerk (1832). The older church was destroyed by a flood in 1966)[72]
Javanese Christian Church Margoyudan (GKJ), Surakarta (1916)[73]
Christ the King Catholic Church, Ketabang, Surabaya (built in 1933, current form 1957)
Christ the God Methodist Church, Surabaya (current church are built in 1952, Founded by Chinese Presbyterian movement in 1910 and later transferred to American Methodist Church in 1928)[86]
Jawi Wetan Christian Church (GKJW), Gubeng, Surabaya (1924)
Manado Cathedral, Manado (founded 1919, official name: Holiest heart of Mary Cathedral. The current church building was built in 2003 and consecrated in 2010)
GMIM Sentrum, Manado (1677)[119][120] (The church was rebuilt in 1952 after Japan bombed it in World War II)[121]
GMIM Sion, Tomohon (1930) (The original wooden church was built at least before 1878, according to the first establishment of the bell tower, which was built in 1878. In 1929, the current church building was built above the original church. The building was inaugurated in 1930. The building is 30x20 meter)[122]
GMIM Sentrum, Tondano (1831) (The original wooden church was built in 1831, destroyed during an 1845 earthquake then rebuilt with wood structure in the same year and re-consecrated on November 2, 1888. The church was destroyed during World War and renovated in 1937)[123][124][125]
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Tomohon (1902) (The church was destroyed during a 1934 earthquake and was renovated at the same year. Previously, the church was located not far from the current place and was consecrated in 1891.1919, the Sacred Heart church became the home of the first bishop of Manado, located at the old site of the church)[126][127]
GMIM Galilea Watume (Old Church of Watumea), Watumea (1872)[128] (The oldest wooden church)
GMIM Sentrum Amurang (1836) (The church stands in the former Portuguese Forth Chapel, the current building is from 1900s)[129][130]
South Sulawesi
Makassar Cathedral [id], Makassar (built in 1898 as a neogothic church, later expanded and tower added in the 1940s, official name: Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral)[131]
In Ambon Island, many of the church buildings, including the 18th-century St. Immanuel's Old Church of Hila, were destroyed during the Maluku sectarian conflict.[25] Some of these churches have been restored by the community.
Ambon Cathedral, Ambon (founded in 1901, official name: St. Francis Xaverius Cathedral)
^Kleinbauer, W. Eugene (1988): Modern perspectives in Western art history. An anthology of twentieth-century writings on the visual arts. Toronto : Published by University of Toronto Press in association with the Medieval Academy of America, s.318.
^Han Soedira. "Sejarah Depok Lama". soedira.com (in Indonesian). Depok Lama. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
^Aritonang, Jan Sihar; Steenbrink, Karel, eds. (2008), A history of Christianity in Indonesia, Leiden, The Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill NV, p. 617, ISBN978-90-04-17026-1, retrieved 30 November 2010, It is remarkable that in the merger of the BKP with the BNKP the choice for unification was made on cultural rather than denominational grounds. While the Batunese congregations show distinctly Lutheran traits, especially in liturgical matters, the sense of communion is determined by ethno-cultural relations. Similar language and customary law, and especially family links between Nias and the Batu Islands, by far outweigh ecclesiastical tradition.
^Moorrees, F.D.J. (1918). Leven en bedrijf van Hessel Rooker : zendeling leeraar, later hulpprediker te Tondano in de Minahassa (in Dutch). Nijmegen: Ten Hoet.
^"Paroki Pandu Dalam Lintasan Sejarah". Paroki Pandu (in Indonesian). Gereja Katolik Paroki Santa Perawan Maria Bunda Tujuh Kedukaan (Paroki Pandu). Retrieved August 15, 2013.
^Detha Sofyan (March 23, 2014). "Gereja Tua Sikka (masih) Berdiri". adirafacesofindonesia.com (in Indonesian). PT. Adira Dinamika Multi Finance Tbk. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
^"Kota Ambon". tourismmaluku.org (in Indonesian). Maluku Tourism. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
^"Joseph Kam". biokristi.sabda.org/ (in Indonesian). Yayasan Lembaga SABDA (YLSA). Retrieved February 2, 2015.