Immanuel Church

Reckoned to be the oldest church in Indonesia, Immanuel Church was founded in 1939 in Jakarta. It is situated in front of the Gambir railway station, Batavia. Immanuel Church is a Protestant church. The centuries old Dutch State Bible, printed in 1748 by Nicolaas Goetzee of Goringchem, is also kept here.

History

When many people started moving to the satellite town of Batavia, where the church is located, it was considered that the church is too small. With funds collected from the community and Governor General Baud, the work for the expansion of this church began. During the Japanese rule, Immanuel Church was used as a repository for ashes of Japanese soldiers who died during the war. It was in 1948 that the church was renamed as Immanuel Church.

Architecture

Its construction had begun on the birthday of King Willem I of the Netherlands, on August 24, 1835 and completed on 24^{th August 1839. The church was named Willemskerk. This beautiful structure is made in Palladian style, using bricks only. It is circularly structured with seating arrangement also done in the same layout. The design was created by architect J.H. Horst.}