The St Paul's Church is the church ruins that sit on the top of the St Paul's Hill. The hill was originally named as Malacca Hill. It was then changed to Monti Ali Maria or Mary's Hill after the Portuguese took over the hill. The original structure was a simple chapel built in 1521 dedicated to the Virgin Mary and known as the Nossa Senhora da Annunciada (Our Lady of Grace) or the Nossa Senhora da Annunciada (Our Lady of the Hill). According to 16th century Portuguese chronicler, João de Barros, the chapel was built by a Portuguese fidalgo or nobleman, Duarte Coelho, as an act of gratitude following his escape from a storm in the South China Sea.
In 1548, the chapel was passed on to the Society of Jesus by the Bishop of Goa, João Afonso de Albuquerque. Francis Xavier (later Saint Francis) received the title deeds on behalf of the Society. In 1556, the Portuguese enlarged the chapel, adding a second storey to it. Further renovation was carried out in 1590 with the addition of a belfry tower. It was renamed the Igreja de Madre de Deus (Church of the Mother of God). A burial vault was opened in 1592 and many people of distinction were buried there, including Pedro Martins, the second Bishop of Funay, Japan.
Later, the Church of the Mother of God and a school were located on the top of the hill. The residence of the Portuguese officers were built on the slope and the rest of the Portuguese population were at the bottom of the hill. The houses were built of brick and wood. Within this fortress was a town hall, two hospitals, and five churches.
History and Association with St. Francis Xavier
In 1548, St. Francis Xavier with the help of Fr. Francisco Peres and Brother Roque de Oliveira, established a school in the premises of the chapel known as St. Paul's College. This was probably the first school to be established on the Malay peninsula.
Xavier used the church as his base for his missionary journeys to China and Japan. In one of those journeys, Xavier fell sick and eventually died in 1552 on Shangchuan Island, China.
In 1553, the body of Xavier was disinterred from Shangchuan Island and temporarily buried at the church before it was finally shipped to Goa. An open grave in the church still exists today marking the place of Xavier's burial.
Development through the Years
When the Dutch took over Malacca in 1641, the church was reconsecrated for Dutch Reformed use as St. Paul's Church, also known as the Bovenkerk or High Church. The church remained in use as the main church of the Dutch community for 112 years until the new Bovenkerk (better known today as Christ Church Melaka) was completed in 1753.
The old church was then subsequently deconsecrated and the structure modified and strengthened as part of the fortifications of Malacca. The nave of the church was then used as a churchyard. When the British occupied Malacca in 1824, the church had lost its tower but a lighthouse was added in front of it. Instead of being used it as a place of worship, the Church became a convenient storehouse for British gunpowder, causing it to deterioate further.
In 1924, the old Portuguese burial vault in the chancel of the church was partially uncovered. Further excavation was done in 1930 by the president of the newly formed Malacca Historical Society, Major C. E. Bone. It was in this period that it was turned into a burial ground and tombstones that were scattered around in the vicinity of the church were affixed to the walls.
In 1952, a statue of St. Francis Xavier was erected in front of the ruins of the church in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of his sojourn in Malacca. A day after the statue was consecrated, a large casuarina tree fell on it, breaking off its right arm. Incidentally, the right forearm of Xavier was detached in 1614 as a relic.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Paul's_Church,_Malacca
http://malacca.attractionsinmalaysia.com/St-Paul-Church.php
http://www.malaccaguide.com/st_pauls_church.html
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