Christ Church, Melaka

Christ Church stands as Malaysia's oldest functioning Protestant church, falling under the Lower Central Archdeaconry of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia. Back in 1741, the Dutch burgher community made the call to replace the aging Bovenkerk with a new church. This project saw its start with the laying of the foundation stone by Abraham de Wind, a native of Malacca and the Captain of the Malacca Burghers. Twelve years of construction ensued, leading to the church's completion in 1753, taking over as the primary Dutch Reformed Church in Dutch Malacca.

The turning point came with the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824, which shifted Malacca's possession to the British East India Company. Subsequently, in 1838, the church underwent re-consecration under the rites of the Church of England by the Right Reverend Daniel Wilson, the Anglican Bishop of Calcutta, who also renamed it Christ Church. Later, in 1858, the responsibility for maintaining the church transitioned to the Government of the Straits Settlements.

Originally sporting a white coat, the church, along with the adjacent Stadthuys building, adopted a striking red hue in 1911, a color scheme that has since become emblematic of Malacca's Dutch-era architecture.

As for its architectural style, Christ Church boasts a Dutch Colonial design, presenting a simple rectangular structure measuring 82 by 42 feet. Inside, the ceiling soars to 40 feet, supported by wooden beams, each hewn from a single tree. Over time, the original Dutch windows underwent alterations, gaining embellishments following the British takeover of Malacca. Moreover, the porch and vestry additions only materialized in the mid-19th century.