Photos

This is part of the ruins of what’s left of St Paul’s Church on top of St Paul’s Hill overlooking the Straits of Malacca. It was originally a chapel (called ‘Our Lady of the Hill’ in dedication to Our Lady of Grace) erected in 1521 by a Portuguese nobleman, Duerte Coelho. The chapel was later handed over to the Society of Jesus. Francis Xavier (later St Francis) represented the Society in receiving the title deeds.

Francis Xavier preached and lived in this church when he stopped over during his trips to the Far East. When he died in China in 1553, his remains were sent to Malacca and interred in the Church for 9 months, before it was exhumed and sent to Goa, India. Apparently, his body showed little signs of decay, leading to requests for his canonization.

When the Dutch conquered Malacca in 1641, they repaired and reconsecrated it, and calling it St Paul's Church. It was used as a place of worship for 112 years until Christ Church (a Lutheran church) was built at the foot of the hill. St. Paul's Church became a burial ground, and white-washed to become a navigational marker for passing ships.

Within the ruins of the Church building, there are hugh tombstones of Dutch noblemen and women, including one inscribed with a message in memory of 3 young children and their mother, all passing within days of each other.