Blenduk Church
Protestant church in Indonesia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Protestant Church in Western Indonesia Immanuel Semarang (Indonesian: Gereja Protestan Indonesia Barat Immanuel Semarang), better known as Blenduk Church (Gereja Blenduk), is a Protestant church in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. Built in 1753, it is the oldest church in the province.[1]
| Blenduk Church | |
|---|---|
| Protestant Church in Western Indonesia Immanuel Semarang | |
Gereja Protestan Indonesia Barat Immanuel Semarang | |
| |
  Blenduk Church Location in Semarang | |
| 6°58′5.28″S 110°25′38.98″E | |
| Location | Semarang, Central Java |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Denomination | Protestant (Calvinist) |
| History | |
| Founded | 1753 |
| Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
| Administration | |
| Parish | 200 families (2004) |
Architecture and layout
Blenduk Church, at 32 Letjen Suprapto Street in the old town of Semarang, Central Java, is located in a small courtyard between former office buildings.[1] The Jiwasraya building is located to the south, across the street, while the Kerta Niaga offices are to its west.[2]
The octagonal church, built on a stone foundation and with single-layer brick walls, has its ground floor at street level.[2] It is topped by a large, copper-skinned dome, from which it gets its common name;[3][4] the Javanese word mblenduk means dome. The dome is supported by 32 steel beams, 8 large and 24 small.[5] Two towers, square at the base and slowly rounding until topped with a small dome, are located on either side of the main entrance, while a cornice consisting of horizontal lines runs around the building; Roman-style porticoes covered in saddle-shaped roofs are located on its eastern, southern and western faces.[1] Blenduk also features etched and stained glass windows, as well as wood-panel double doors at the south-facing entrance.[1][2]
The wooden pews inside Blenduk have rattan seats, while the pulpit is completely made of wood and located on an octagonal platform made of teak.[1][5] A nonfunctional Baroque pipe organ from the 1700s is also located inside.[1][4] The floor is covered in black, yellow, and white tiles.[5] In the northern part of the interior is a spiral staircase, etched with name of its manufacturer, Pletterij den haag (Rolling Mill, The Hague), which leads to the second floor.[5]
History
Blenduk was established in 1753; the initial building had a joglo-style.[1] Although meant for Protestants, Catholics also used it until the first Catholic church in the city, in Gedangan, was built.[1]
The church was later rebuilt in 1787.[1] Another re-imagining, spearheaded by H.P.A. de Wilde and W. Westmas, began work in 1894.[1] During this renovation, the dome and two towers were added.[1][4] Another series of renovations began in the early 2000s.[1] As of 2004, the church has 200 families in its congregation and holds regular Sunday services;[6] it is also a tourist attraction.[4] In 2003 the church celebrated its 250th year.[1]
Awards
In February 2009, Blenduk received an award for Best Maintained Old Place of Worship from the Central Java branch of the Architects' Society of Indonesia.[7]
Gallery
Interior
Pulpit
A stained glass window.
