THE wooden building on stilts, nestled in the remote area near Kanowit in central Sarawak, looks quite new, with a facelift. But it is old – and steeped in history.
Welcome to the Sacred Heart Church in Sungai Bawan.
Built in 1883 by a Catholic missionary priest, the church is believed to be one of the oldest in Sarawak.
Despite being 141 years old, it continues to stand strong, although it recently required significant repairs and restoration.
Constructed with belian wood, known as the “king of all woods” for its longevity, the church’s structure can endure for centuries more.
The restoration project, costing RM500,000, was funded by the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) under the Sarawak Premier’s Department.
These efforts were essential for preserving this heritage building, allowing it to continue serving residents from nearby longhouses for prayer services.
Edward Asim, a 63-year-old resident of Nanga Bawan, expressed his excitement over the successful restoration of the church.
“We live close to the church and we’re thrilled with the completion of the restoration work,” he said.
According to Edward, the Sungai Bawan church is primarily used for funeral services rather than Sunday mass.
“It accommodates no more than 100 people. Funerals are usually held here as the cemetery is nearby.
“We either hold mass in our longhouse or at St Francis Xavier Church in Kanowit town.
“Since we live across the river from Kanowit, we often take a boat to the town,” Edward explained.
The church members come from several surrounding longhouses, including Rumah Daniel Rangkong, Rumah Stephen Chendang, Rumah Paulus Iyan, Rumah Sunti Monggat, Rumah Veronica Silas, Rumah Adrian Luang, Rumah Damat and Rumah Francis, along with residents of Nanga Bawan and Sungai Tuah.
The church’s chairman Liew Tubow had previously thanked the state government for the financial allocation through Unifor for the repair works.
