Here stands Gereja Kristen Indonesia Kwitang. It whispers tales of faith forged in colonial Jakarta. This church is not just a building. It is a living testament to a community’s resilience.
GKI Kwitang began unexpectedly. The story starts in the 1870s. Protestants yearned for something more than the prevailing religious climate. In 1873 the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk from the Netherlands sent Zendeling E. Haah to Batavia. His mission was to spread the Gospel among the Dutch. This led to the formation of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk van Batavia.
Zendeling E. Haan bought a bamboo house. It became a parsonage. With help from Ny. R. Rijks Nn. Hofland and Ny. Blankert a school and simple house of worship were built. The first service took place on November 5 1876. About 50 people attended. On July 17 1877 the congregation in Kwitang was officially established. It was named Gereformeerde Kwitangkerk. Services were held in Dutch. The members included Europeans Javanese Ambonese and Chinese residents of Batavia.
In 1886 Ds. Huysing replaced Zendeling E. Haan. He oversaw the construction of a permanent church building. The architectural style was Indische Empire Style. It featured a facade supported by four large Tuscan pillars. A circular opening was in the center of the facade.
In 1921 Ir. F.L. Wiemans renovated the church. He was a Delft Technical High School graduate. The renovation was completed in 1924. It retained the main room. The facade was transformed incorporating Art Nouveau and Art Deco elements. Geometric ornaments and stained glass were added.
On August 11 1929 the Gereformeerde congregation using the Malay language became independent. In November 1930 Pendeta Isak Siagian was ordained. He was the first pastor of the Gereja Gereformeerde Melayu Kwitang. At that time services in Dutch were in the morning. Services in Malay were in the afternoon.
During the revolution, the congregation diminished. In 1945 the Gereja Melayu Kwitang joined the Tiong Hoa Kie Tok Kauw Hwee. After Indonesia’s independence many Dutch people returned home. Pendeta A.A. Subana was brought in from GKI Karangsaru Semarang. He led the remaining Dutch-speaking congregation.
In 1948 the Gereja Melayu Kwitang regained its independence. In 1956 the Gereja Gereformeerde Indonesia was renamed Gereja Kristen Indonesia. The Gereja Melayu Kwitang became GKI Kwitang.
In 2004 GKI Kwitang celebrated its 75th anniversary. It was designated a national cultural heritage building. Today GKI Kwitang stands as a beacon of faith. It represents a blend of cultures and architectural styles. Its story reflects the dynamic history of Jakarta. The church’s legacy continues. Its community thrives. It is a place of worship. It is a symbol of Jakarta’s vibrant past and present.