How did Christians came to Malaysia?
Nestorians and Persian traders introduced Christianity to the Malacca islands within the 7th century but Christianity only began to spread with the arrival of Portuguese Catholic missionaries in 1511.
The British took over Malacca in 1795 and also the London Missionary Society was based there from 1815 onwards. Churches were established mainly to serve British expatriates. By silent agreement between land authorities and also the Sultan, work among Muslims wasn't allowed.
Hence, mission work targeting animistic tribes. Because of a change in policy by the government. Most missionaries had to go away from the country by the late 1970s, but the Church continued to grow especially in the district.
Churches are allowed in Malaysia, though there are restrictions on construction of recent churches through discriminatory zoning laws. No pre-existing churches are closed down by the government and no standing congregations are disbanded. However, it's difficult to create new churches.
For example, it took quite twenty years for the local council in Shah Alam to permit a church to be built there, with a further condition that the church must appear as if it were a factory and not a more conventional church appearance. Most of the time, new churches are started in a very clandestine manner as ordinary businesses in shops.
As it is reasonably commonly known, churches are either Catholic or Protestant. Within each category are the many different denominations which are able to further be divided between Methodist, Anglican, Presbyterian, Charismatic and many others.
Catholic Churches
Catholic Churches are quite common around Malaysia because of the strong history when Catholic priests came to the country.
Protestant Churches
It is often assumed that the bulk Christian churches are Protestant churches.
Brethren Churches
Traditional churches which have been around the late 1800s. Among the favored Brethren churches in Malaysia include the Gospel Hall Assemblies, the Gospel Hall, Petaling Jaya Gospel Hall, the Grace Chapel Luyang in Sabah and many others.
Methodist Church
Came to the country around the late 1800s. it's totally easy to identify a church of this denomination because the word ‘Methodist’ is typically included a bit like the Wesley Protestant denomination, the Ampang Chinese Protestant denomination and thus the Trinity Protestant denomination.
Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterian movement was quite prominent in Johor, in Penang, Ipoh and the capital of Malaysia. The St Andrews’ Protestant denomination in the capital of Malaysia is maybe one all told oldest church in Malaysia while others include the Air Jernih Protestant denomination in Kuala Terengganu and thus the Chen-Li Protestant denomination in Masai, Johor.
Anglican Churches
The most prominent Anglican Church in Malaysia would surely be the St Mary’s Cathedral in capital of Malaysia which apart from being one all told the foremost historical landmarks within the country is that the cathedral of The Diocese of territory of the Anglican Church of the Province of South East Asia likewise because the Episcopal see of the Anglican Bishop of territory and thus the mother church of the diocese.
Charismatic Church
They adopt Pentecostal beliefs that emphasize the gifts of the Spirit. Churches during this denomination include Calvary Church, Full Gospel Tabernacle and many others.
Some of Malaysia's oldest and longest surviving churches:
1. St.Peter’s Church
This church is located at Melaka. St.Peter’s Church was built in the 1710s. One of the Catholic churches in Malaysia.
Address: 166, Lorong Bendahara, Kampung Bukit China, Melaka
2. Christ Church
Christ Church built in 1741. Oldest Protestant church still in use and comes under jurisdiction of the Lower Central Archdeaconry of the Angelican Diocese of West Malaysia.
Address: Jalan Gereja, Bandar Hilir Melaka
3. St. George’s Anglican Church
This church located at Penang which built around 1818. One of the oldest Anglican churches in Southeast Asia which was built with bricks on a solid plastered stone base.
Address: 1, Lebuh Farquhar,George town
4. St. Francis Xavier’s Church
St. Francis Xavier’s Church on the old Portugis site. It's built around 1956.
Address: 12, Jalan Banda Kaba, Bandar Hilir
5. Church of the Assumption
This Church of the Assumption was built in 1861. Here this church has two bell towers.
Address: Lebuh Farquhar,George town, 10450 George Town
6. All Saints’s Church
One of the churches at Perak which have survived world war II and also the first church founded in 1887.
Address: Jalan Taming Sari, Taman Tasik Taiping
7. St.Anne’s Church
Another Catholic Church which located Bukit Mertajam. St.Anne’s Church
Found since 1888.
Address: Jalan Kulim, Bukit Mertajam,Penang
8. St.Michael’s And All Angels Church
This church has been located at Sandakan since 1893. It is also one of the oldest stone churches in Sandakan.
Address:51, Jalan Puncak, Pusat Bandar Sandakan
9. St.Andrew’s presbyterian Church
This church has been located at KL since 1902. Actually, it's built to serve the needs of British colonial officers based at KL. Another church survived in World War II.
Address:Persiaran Raja Chulan Road,Bukit Bintang, KL
10. Zion Cathedral
People trust this church built by local Tamil Lutherans who came from Tamil Nadu. it's also found in 1924.
Address: Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad, Brickfield
Author : Punitha Narayanasamy
New to me
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