History of the church
The original structure was built in 1521 by a Portuguese nobleman, Duarte Coelho, as an act of gratitude following his escape from a storm in the South China Sea.
The chapel was deeded to the Society of Jesus in 1548 by the Bishop of Goa, João Afonso de Albuquerque, with the title deeds received by St. Francis Xavier. The chapel was then renamed the Igreja de Madre de Deus (Church of the Mother of God).
Xavier used the church as his base for his missionary journeys to China and Japan. On one of those journeys, Xavier fell sick and in 1552 in Shangchuan Island, China he died.
In 1553, the body of Xavier was disinterred from Shangchuan Island and temporarily buried at here before it was finally shipped to Goa. An open grave with metal barrier in the church marking the place of Xavier's burial.
A burial vault was opened in 1592 and many people of distinction were buried there.
Reconsecration and abandonment
With the conquest of Malacca by the Dutch 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 until the new Bovenkerk (better known today as Christ Church Malacca) 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 was used as a powder magazine and was allowed to deteriorate further.
Excavation and Additionals
In 1849, a now-defunct lighthouse was installed in front of the church as an additional beacon for ships travelling along the Strait of Malacca.
In 1924, the old Portuguese burial vault in the chancel of the church was partially uncovered. Further excavation was done in 1930. It was in this period that the 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.
This part of the story of this ancient monument, which, along with its history tells you the story of its usefulness. To the Portuguese it was a place of worship; to the Dutch a church, a burial ground and a fortress, and to the British, a powder magazine. Now, it is a place of worship and a great tourist attraction, because, there rested, the remains of a most extraordinary man of God:- St. Francis Xavier.
(Logging Requirements)
Show your geocaching ID and take a photo with the tomb of St. Francis Xavier within the St. Paul's Church. Do check out Spoiler image if unsure where.
The photo must be attached as you log.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.