Gereja Koinonia Jakarta, or Koinonia Church, what stories do its walls whisper? This old church stands on Jalan Matraman Raya. It sits near the intersection of Jalan Jatinegara Barat and Jalan Jatinegara Timur. GPIB Koinonia is a legacy of Jakarta’s colonial past.
Let’s step back in time. Picture Jayakarta, now Jakarta, being reclaimed by the Dutch. Prince Jayakarta Wijayakrama fled southeast. He sought refuge in a forest filled with teak trees. This area became known as Jatinegara.
The 1600s saw Jatinegara transform. Once a lush forest, it changed with the arrival of Europeans. Under Dutch control, Jatinegara grew into a Batavia suburb. Christianity’s spread here links directly to this development.
The early 19th century brought big changes to Batavia and Jatinegara. Cornelis Senen, a wealthy man from Banda, played a key role. He arrived in Batavia in 1621. Cornelis became a Christian teacher. He opened a school and led services. He preached in Malay and Portuguese. His title, Meester, meaning teacher, earned him respect.
After Meester Cornelis Senen died in 1662, his name lived on. The area he oversaw became known as Meester Cornelis. Today, it is simply called Meester. This honored his contributions to Jatinegara’s growth.
Heuken noted the church in Meester Cornelis was significant. It thrived as the area became a prosperous suburb. The original church was built around 1889. Keuchenius, a former High Court Chairman in Batavia, built it. It was renovated between 1911 and 1916. It was then named Bethelkerk by De Protestantsche Kerk in Nederlandsch-Indie or Indische Kerk.
Bethelkerk’s ownership changed over time. In 1948, it became GPIB Jemaat Bethel. This happened by decree of the High Representative of the Kingdom in Indonesia. On January 1, 1961, it was renamed GPIB Jemaat “Koinonia”. Koinonia means fellowship.
The GPIB Koinonia’s design follows geometric rules. The building has four rooms. Staircases sit at each corner. A main room anchors the structure. Four identical porches adorn each side. The church’s roof features five four-sided pyramids. Each staircase has its own roof. The porches have pointed saddle roofs.
Today, GPIB Jemaat Koinonia stands on Jalan Matraman Raya. It connects Jalan Jatinegara Barat and Timur. The GPIB Koinonia building is a cultural heritage site. It earned this designation through Governor’s Decree Number 510 in 2018.
GPIB Koinonia is the first church in East Jakarta. It boasts soaring towers and gables. This historical site showcases Jakarta’s heritage. GPIB Koinonia became a Cultural Heritage site in December 2016. The church offers services every Sunday. You can attend at 7 AM and 6 PM. People praise its architecture and friendly community. The building is continuously restored. It stands strong as a testament to history.
The church complex sits at the end of Jalan Matraman. Meester Cornelis Senen opened a Malay-speaking service post here. This was between 1656 and 1661. The Bethel Church building was initially constructed around 1889. A former Chairman of the High Court of the Dutch Colonial Government ordered its construction. He was angry with a sermon given at Willems Kerk now Gereja Emmanuel.
Vernacular architecture defines it. Dutch gables and Greek crosses adorn it. The floor plan uses geometry. The rectangle divides into nine parts. Staircases occupy the corners. This creates a symmetrical cross inside. From the outside, the staircases look like towers.
This building is now a conservation site. It holds religious and historical value. Preserving it safeguards a cultural artifact. The GPIB Koinonia stands as an authentic example of religious history.