St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Kuala Lumpur)

Malaysia / Kuala Lumpur / Kuala Lumpur / Jalan Raja Chulan, 29/31
Address:
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
No. 29/31, Jalan Raja Chulan
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Phone(s):
(+603) 2031 1223
(+603) 2072 5687
Fax: (+603) 2070 2567
Website: standrewschurch.org.my/

Opened on 17 April 1918, the church was originally built to serve the needs of British colonial officers based in Kuala Lumpur. Back then, the ruling British selfishly kept the church membership exclusively for the "Whites" as in their colonies. Due to this racial rule, the building of this church was strongly opposed by Loke Chow Kit, a wealthy businessman who wanted the land for a Chinese language school. The church was also famous for the role it played in 1941 in getting recruits for the World War II effort. However, many of the congregation and the survivors were taken prisoner by the Imperial Japanese Army. The Japanese looted many valuable items stored in the church and vital church records were simply disappeared.

The Japanese Empire was defeated in September 1945, and in early 1946 a small group of Presbyterians returned to Kuala Lumpur and re-started services at St. Andrew's. The stained glass windows were installed to commemorate the war dead. The church was very much a "White's Only" church until the 1970s when the 1st Asians were admitted. The church has maintained much of its original architecture and internal furnishings and is perhaps one of the finest functioning examples of colonial architecture existing in Kuala Lumpur.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   3°8'55"N   101°42'8"E

Comments

  • St Andrew's Presbyterian Church was the original Scottish planters church. It was built over 1917/1918 and opened for worship in 1918 amid much colonial fanfare. This church was the other colonial church besides St Mary's (today a cathedral). The building of this church was originally opposed by Loke Chow Kit who wanted the land for a Chinese language school. The 1st padre of this church was Rev. A Drummond Harcus who served from 1915 until 1923 when he was forced to return to England due to the recurrent malarial attacks he suffered from. The church also has the best church pipe organ in working condition in the whole of Kuala Lumpur. The Riddel-Eminent organ is a hybrid made up of components of the original 1939 Riddell organ married to the 1998 Eminent console by organ builder Mr Robert Navaratnam of Singapore. The original Riddell organ once had the distinction of being the only pipe organ ever to be completely built in Malaya. In 1939, Mr J. A. Riddell used the skills of local craftsmen to fashion all its components except the 29 display pipes which were cast and milled in England. During the Second World War, the Imperial Japanese Army looted all the organ pipes. After the war, Mr. Riddell had the pipes restored but this time employing local expertise, making the Riddell organ the only 100% Malaysian made pipe organ for the next 50 years until the organ upgrade of 1998. The church was also famous for the role it played in 1941 in getting recruits for the war effort. The padre at the time, Rev. Alfred Webb, joined the 2nd (Selangor) Battalion of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force (FMSVF) and he was commissioned as a captain and chaplain to the 2FMSVF. Many of the congregation served in 2FMSVF and the survivors were taken prisoner by the Japanese. After the war, the stained glass windows were installed to commemorate the war dead. Sir John Hay of the Guthrie Corporation paid for one of the stained glass windows. The Alice Smith Kindergarden School was housed in the present day fellowship hall of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in 1951 and this arrangement lasted until 1963. After all, it was a St. Andrew's padre, Rev. Sydney Evans, who helped found the Alice Smith School. The church was very much a colonial church until the 1970s when the 1st Asians were admitted. The church has maintained much of its original architecture and internal furnishings and is perhaps one of the finest functioning examples of colonial architecture existing in Kuala Lumpur. The church would be celebrating the 90th anniversary of its opening in 2008.
  • Some of the church's interior fittings were removed, altered or stolen over the years. The former memorial plaques on the walls have still not been replaced 65 years after they were looted. The church's beautiful original terracotta floor tiles has also been thoughtlessly covered by glued-on carpetting for 20 years. The glue would have damaged the tiles by now. The Malayan Police plaque mounted over the pipe organ console in the post WW2 years has also disappeared. The original pews were also modified about 30 years ago. The look and sound of the pipe organ was diminished by the ill-advised addition of a modern electronic console designed for beginners insisted on by a former organist. To restore the organ to its former glory would be costly. The church's antique Crompton ceiling fans which were in excellent working condition were thoughtlessly thrown away in 2007 and replaced by cheap Malaysian fans.
This article was last modified 13 years ago