Completed in 1753, Christ Church is Malaysia's oldest functioning Protestant church and a centrepiece of the Dutch Square heritage precinct. The distinctive red facade dates to 1911 and has become an iconic symbol of Melaka's colonial architecture.
A Building Through Three Colonial Eras
After the Dutch seized Melaka in 1641, they converted existing churches for Reformed Protestant use. To mark the century since their conquest, the Dutch laid the foundation stone for a new church in 1741. Completed in 1753, Christ Church replaced the earlier Bovenkerk as the main place of worship. The interior features a wooden ceiling decorated with gilded details typical of 18th-century Dutch Protestant design.
Under British Rule
The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 transferred Melaka to British control, and the church was re-consecrated as an Anglican house of worship. The shift from Dutch Reformed to Anglican practices reflected this political change, and the church acquired its present name. Throughout these transitions, the basic architectural structure remained unchanged.
The Distinctive Red Facade
The building’s defining characteristic emerged in 1911 when it was painted bright red, a colour scheme that became characteristic of Melaka’s Dutch heritage district. The striking facade contrasts with the interior’s wooden tones and now serves as the church’s most recognizable feature in Dutch Square.
Today
Christ Church remains an active Anglican parish and the oldest functioning Protestant place of worship in Malaysia. The simplicity of its Dutch architectural design makes the decorative elements inside more striking. The church sits among other heritage buildings in Dutch Square, including the Stadthuys and Proclamation of Independence Memorial.
