Gereja Sion
Encyclopedia
Gereja Sion is a historic church located in Pinangsia Administrative District, Taman Sari, Jakarta
, Indonesia
. Dating from 1695, it is the oldest remaining church in Jakarta.
The church was built outside the old city walls for the so-called "black Portuguese" - the Eurasians and natives captured from Portuguese trading posts in India and Malaya and brought to Jakarta (then Batavia) as slaves. Most of these people were Catholics, but were given their freedom on the condition that they joined the Dutch Reformed Church
, and the converts were known as Mardijker or the liberated ones.
The construction of the church was started in 1693. It was officially opened on Sunday, October 23, 1695 and was jointly financed by the Portuguese and the VOC
Government. The first sermon was delivered by Reverend Theodorus Zas and was attended by Governor General Willem van Outhoorn
.
Later, the church name changed into "Portuguese Church".. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
in 1942, the name "Portuguese Church" was forbidden and the church was closed for two years. The Japanese army wished to transform the place into a columbarium
for the fallen soldiers.
During the governmental transition, the Dutch government transferred the ownership of the church to the Protestant Churches of Western Indonesia body (Gereja-gereja Protestan di Indonesia) or GPIB. During the 1957 GPIB Sinode Conference, the Portuguese Church changed its name into GPIB Congregation of Zion (GPIB Jemaat Sion), and since then, the church is known as Zion Church.
The church was restored in 1920 and in 1978. The building is protected through the Law SK Gubernur DKI Jakarta CB/11/1/12/1972
In 1984, the churchyard was reduced for road construction.
. The wall is constructed from bricks glued by a mix of sand and heatproof sugar.
Zion Church is characteristically Portuguese with its plain facade, ward-like appearance and domed windows. The church contains copper chandeliers, a baroque-style ebony pulpit, and the original organ. The furnishings were made by craftsmen from Formosa (Taiwan
). The pipe organ was donated by the daughter of Reverend John Maurits Moor.
2,381 people were buried in the graveyard during 1790 alone, however, few tombs remain.
The ornate bronze tombstone of Governor General Hendrick Zwaardecroon
who died in 1728 was buried, as was his wish, among "ordinary" people.
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Dating from 1695, it is the oldest remaining church in Jakarta.
History
The church was formerly known as De Nieuwe Potugeesche Buitenkerk ("The New Portuguese Outer Church"), referring to its position on the outside of the city wall, as opposed to Portugeesche Binnenkerk, "the Portuguese Inner Church"). The church was also known as Belkita during the period.The church was built outside the old city walls for the so-called "black Portuguese" - the Eurasians and natives captured from Portuguese trading posts in India and Malaya and brought to Jakarta (then Batavia) as slaves. Most of these people were Catholics, but were given their freedom on the condition that they joined the Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
, and the converts were known as Mardijker or the liberated ones.
The construction of the church was started in 1693. It was officially opened on Sunday, October 23, 1695 and was jointly financed by the Portuguese and the VOC
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
Government. The first sermon was delivered by Reverend Theodorus Zas and was attended by Governor General Willem van Outhoorn
Willem van Outhoorn
Willem van Outhoorn was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1691 to 1704. He was born and died in the Dutch East Indies.-Biography:...
.
Later, the church name changed into "Portuguese Church".. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
in 1942, the name "Portuguese Church" was forbidden and the church was closed for two years. The Japanese army wished to transform the place into a columbarium
Columbarium
A columbarium is a place for the respectful and usually public storage of cinerary urns . The term comes from the Latin columba and originally referred to compartmentalized housing for doves and pigeons .The Columbarium of Pomponius Hylas is a particularly fine ancient Roman example, rich in...
for the fallen soldiers.
During the governmental transition, the Dutch government transferred the ownership of the church to the Protestant Churches of Western Indonesia body (Gereja-gereja Protestan di Indonesia) or GPIB. During the 1957 GPIB Sinode Conference, the Portuguese Church changed its name into GPIB Congregation of Zion (GPIB Jemaat Sion), and since then, the church is known as Zion Church.
The church was restored in 1920 and in 1978. The building is protected through the Law SK Gubernur DKI Jakarta CB/11/1/12/1972
In 1984, the churchyard was reduced for road construction.
Building
Zion Church measures 24 by 32 meters and is situated on 6,725 square meters of land. An extension was built on the back facade, measuring 6 by 18 meters. It was built above a foundation of 10,000 logs. The construction is designed by E. Ewout Verhagen from RotterdamRotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. The wall is constructed from bricks glued by a mix of sand and heatproof sugar.
Zion Church is characteristically Portuguese with its plain facade, ward-like appearance and domed windows. The church contains copper chandeliers, a baroque-style ebony pulpit, and the original organ. The furnishings were made by craftsmen from Formosa (Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
). The pipe organ was donated by the daughter of Reverend John Maurits Moor.
2,381 people were buried in the graveyard during 1790 alone, however, few tombs remain.
The ornate bronze tombstone of Governor General Hendrick Zwaardecroon
Hendrick Zwaardecroon
Hendrick or Henricus Zwaardecroon was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1718 until 1725.-Early career:...
who died in 1728 was buried, as was his wish, among "ordinary" people.