A trio of unique but equally astounding places of worship stand on the borders surrounding Merdeka Square, their shared presence symbolic of Indonesia’s mission to uphold religious diversity.
The Immanuel Church, Jakarta Cathedral and the Istiqlal Mosque are destinations in their own rights; even for non-worshipping guests, the architecture and history of each of these landmarks are reasons alone to visit them.
Immanuel Church Jakarta | Jakarta Cathedral | Istiqlal Mosque
Immanuel Church Jakarta
Standing opposite Gambir train station is one of Indonesia’s oldest churches and places of worship, Immanuel Church Jakarta, built in 1839 during Dutch occupation.
Originally it was named Willemskerk, after then-monarch King Willem I of Netherlands, and was thus aptly placed beside what was then called Koningsplein, King’s Square, or Merdeka Square today. The construction of the church was initiated by the Dutch Reformists and Lutherans of Batavia, taking four years to complete. These were well spent: the grand Protestant church embodies classical European design, almost Romanesque with its Doric columns, heaving gavel façade, circular nave, and iconic dome.
Inside, the feeling of grandeur continues, with its inner dome known for its fabulous acoustics where one can imagine the voices of pastors of the past booming to a gathered congregation. Speaking of acoustics, another highlight is the stately pipe organ, installed in 1843, making it one of the oldest in Indonesia. Restored again in 1985, the original Bätz-made instrument still resounds during services today.
The church changed its name to Immanuel in 1948, falling under the jurisdiction of Gereja Protestan di Indonesia Bagian Barat (GPIB, or Protestant Churches of West Indonesia), but still honours its history by holding a Dutch service, on top of regular Indonesian and English services. In fact, the church has an original Dutch State Bible from 1748.
Jakarta Cathedral
A vision of towering spires and intricate stonework, the Jakarta Cathedral, officially named Gereja Santa Perawan Maria Diangkat ke Surga (The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption), is a masterpiece of Neo-Gothic architecture.
Completed in 1901, its construction followed almost 70 years after Willemskerk (Immanuel Jakarta), owing to the Netherlands’ allegiance to Protestantism prior to the instalment of King Lodewijk I by Napolean — who was none other than the latter’s Catholic brother, Louis Bonaparte.
With its tallest spires towering at 60-metres high, and the building measuring 60-metres in length (with a cross-section 10-metres wide making a cross from above), the Jakarta Cathedral doesn’t only trump Immanuel in size, but also in its intricacy and elaborateness of design. The façade a maze of stone carvings, pointed arches and delicate stained-glass windows, framed by elaborate buttresses. Inside, soaring arches rise from the cathedral nave, up towards the high-vaulted ceiling of wooden panels.
Above the wooden pews, the second floor of the cathedral hosts the Jakarta Cathedral Museum, offering a glimpse into mass during its time under the Dutch East Indies, with some unique statues like a kebaya-wearing Mother Mary. The cathedral continues to inspire awe as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jakarta and a spiritual home among places of worship for thousands.
Istiqlal Mosque
A stone’s throw from Jakarta Cathedral, deliberately placed as a symbol of pluralism, the colossal Istiqlal Mosque (Masjid Istiqlal) matches the magnificence of its predecessors.
Built by the post-colonial government, the ‘fervour of independence’ certainly comes through in the design of mosque, much as it did with Monas: visions of buildings exuding symbolism and monumentalism. This was certainly achieved, with the mosque now the largest in Southeast Asia, with a capacity of up to 200,000 people.
The name Istiqlal itself, translating to “Independence,” was carefully chosen to embody the spirit of a new Indonesia, free from colonial rule. It was Indonesia’s first President, Sukarno, who laid the mosque’s cornerstone in 1961, envisioning a structure that would reflect the nation’s diversity and its status as the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. The mosque was inaugurated on 22 February 1978 by President Suharto, marking a monumental chapter in modern Indonesian history.
With its vast dome and singular minaret, Masjid Istiqlal’s design was a testament to the preference for modernism of its architect, a Batak-Christian named Friedrich Silaban, who also designed the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan. Much like Monas, symbolism was imbued into the design of Istiqlal: the mosque’s dome measures 45 metres in diameter to match the year of independence, 1945; while its 99.6 metre-high minaret is a nod to the 99 names of Allah in Islamic tradition.
As a symbol of tolerance, in December 2020 construction started for a passageway that would connect the Jakarta Cathedral to Istiqlal Mosque, this was completed in September 2021. Named ‘Terowongan Silaturahmi’ (Tunnel of Friendship), the 28-metre has already been used by Pope Francis in September 2024 and was officially inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto in December 2024.
