Blenduk Church
In some areas of Semarang, it is almost possible to think you are in an old suburb of Amsterdam, not the capital of Central Java. We can find that location in North side of Semarang City where used to be trading area. It's home to many buildings dating back to the heyday of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Unfortunately, this area seems to be abandoned by local authority since many onetime office buildings and banks in Semarang's Kota Lama (old city) are now dilapidated warehouses.
One of the exceptions is Immanuel Western Indonesia Protestant Church, also known as or "Blenduk" church, located at Jl. Letjen Suprapto 32. They called it "Blenduk" because the shape of the dome, its a Javanese word for an convex shape of the dome. This church was built in 1753, 75 years after the VOC extended its operation to Semarang.
The Church is distinguished from other buildings in Kota Lama. It features a unique façade divided vertically into three parts. On the ground floor of the building is almost the same level as the street in front of it, built on a brick base. The vaulted ceiling is covered with a layer of metal surrounded by teak beams. Metal roofs has been added to the structure in 1894, and there is a hole at the top to allow sunlight to filter in.
On the east coast, south and west of the church is a Roman-style portico with a saddle-shaped roof. The two towers on both sides creates an impression impressive, starting with a square base that gradually rounded top. A small domed roof is in place on top of each tower. The cornice around the building there is horizontal lines. The sophistication and uniqueness of the building can be seen in the front door, which is a double door of wood panels. The top of the door is curved like the church arched windows. There are two types of windows: double window with carvings (krepyak) and stained glass.
The Church is composed of wooden benches seat of woven rattan chairs and a wooden pulpit in the front. The old pipe organ was stopped after the last granted in 1975, since the repair costs are quite expensive and cannot be done in Semarang. The church has a large courtyard on the right side, where many leafy trees are growing and which are used in the parking lot of the church on Sunday.
Renovation has been continuing on this church. When it was built in 1753, it took the shape of a Javanese stilt house. In 1787, the church's architecture was changed, and seven years later more renovations were done. In 1894, the church was rebuilt by HPA de Wilde and W. Westmas and that style remains to this day. A plaque dedicated to de Wilde and Westmas can be found at the back of the pulpit. For the 250th anniversary, more renovations are underway, especially for the pews and walls.
Unfortunately, this area seems to be abandoned by local authority since many onetime office buildings and banks in Semarang's Kota Lama (old city) are now dilapidated warehouses.
One of the exceptions is Immanuel Western Indonesia Protestant Church, also known as or "Blenduk" church, located at Jl. Letjen Suprapto 32. They called it "Blenduk" because the shape of the dome, its a Javanese word for an convex shape of the dome. This church was built in 1753, 75 years after the VOC extended its operation to Semarang.
The Church is distinguished from other buildings in Kota Lama. It features a unique façade divided vertically into three parts. On the ground floor of the building is almost the same level as the street in front of it, built on a brick base. The vaulted ceiling is covered with a layer of metal surrounded by teak beams. Metal roofs has been added to the structure in 1894, and there is a hole at the top to allow sunlight to filter in.
On the east coast, south and west of the church is a Roman-style portico with a saddle-shaped roof. The two towers on both sides creates an impression impressive, starting with a square base that gradually rounded top. A small domed roof is in place on top of each tower. The cornice around the building there is horizontal lines. The sophistication and uniqueness of the building can be seen in the front door, which is a double door of wood panels. The top of the door is curved like the church arched windows. There are two types of windows: double window with carvings (krepyak) and stained glass.
The Church is composed of wooden benches seat of woven rattan chairs and a wooden pulpit in the front. The old pipe organ was stopped after the last granted in 1975, since the repair costs are quite expensive and cannot be done in Semarang. The church has a large courtyard on the right side, where many leafy trees are growing and which are used in the parking lot of the church on Sunday.
Renovation has been continuing on this church. When it was built in 1753, it took the shape of a Javanese stilt house. In 1787, the church's architecture was changed, and seven years later more renovations were done. In 1894, the church was rebuilt by HPA de Wilde and W. Westmas and that style remains to this day. A plaque dedicated to de Wilde and Westmas can be found at the back of the pulpit. For the 250th anniversary, more renovations are underway, especially for the pews and walls.
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