Protestant Church in Makassar, 1910

Photo: E. Becker/National Gallery of Australia

Spirituality and religious institutions has always been one of the basic human needs even since the prehistoric era. Humans who cannot explain things in nature turn to religion to find the answers they need, as well as to find peace of mind from the harsh life.

Even the music and dance that we think of as works of art were originally created as part of the rituals of animist beliefs. Therefore, religious relics have always existed in every era and every civilization.

The photo above is a Protestant church built by the Dutch colonial government in 1885 in Makassar, South Sulawesi. This church was officially named Prins Hendriks Kerk or Prince Hendriks Church.

This church was a state church where all of its activities were financed by the Dutch East Indies government, including paying the salaries of the pastor. Built by the Dutch East Indies government to meet the needs of Protestant residents outside the walls of Fort Rotterdam.

This church is still standing today and is named the West Indonesia Protestant Church (GPIB) Immanuel Makassar Congregation.