Sacred space: Uggah (centre) at the new St Peter’s Church in Kuching, accompanied by Poh (right) and Chin. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: The new Gothic-style St Peter’s Church in Padungan here stands as a striking landmark of Sarawak’s religious harmony and unity, says Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
This could be seen in the church’s location in the city centre in close proximity to other religious houses of worship, he said.
“We are blessed to live in a land where mutual respect and peaceful coexistence are not mere aspirations but a way of life.
“This church adds further beauty to that legacy and will undoubtedly be a tourism attraction in the years to come,” he said at the church’s opening ceremony yesterday in a speech read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
The new church is a mere 2km or 3km away from the Floating Mosque, St Thomas’ Cathedral (Anglican), Sikh Temple and the Tua Pek Kong temple. And the Sri Srinivasagar Kaliamman Hindu temple is just 850m away.
Abang Johari commended the spirit of togetherness that made the church a reality, as the Catholic community collaborated with friends and supporters from other faiths and walks of life.
He said the completion of the church showcased what a united community could achieve with a shared purpose and collective goodwill.
“This is not just a place for prayer and reflection, it is a symbol of vision, resilience and deep-rooted faith,” he added.
Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Datuk Simon Poh said St Peter’s Church complemented Kuching’s religious harmony, friendship and goodwill.
He noted that the opening ceremony was attended by people from different faiths who had been working together for peace and harmony.
“So this church becomes a sign of our desire for harmony, contributing to society and building a better Sarawak as a model for other parts of Malaysia and the world.
“Kuching is a city of unity and Sarawak the land of unity. This touches the hearts of many people who come from all walks of life, giving their support for the church building project,” he said.
The RM38mil church, which seats 1,000 people, commenced construction in late 2019 and was completed in December last year.
It was funded by public donations as well as RM3mil in grants from the state Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), including RM1mil handed over during the opening ceremony.
St Peter’s rector Rev Vincent Chin said the building was inspired by the neo-Gothic style of the old St Joseph’s Cathedral here.
“In designing this sacred space, we were guided by the principle of anchoring traditions and embracing change.
“The roof trusses carry the same design from our old church but was constructed with modern steel instead of traditional wood,” he said.
The church’s Gothic features include spires, flying buttresses, pointed arches and stained glass windows.
Chin said the stained glass was made entirely on site by Italian master craftsmen and incorporated local Dayak designs.
He also said the tiles were produced by a local factory while the main door and cross were crafted by a local wood specialist and fittings by local artisans.
“This is truly a Sarawak-built church and we should be proud of it,” he said.
