By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Jan 13: St Peter’s Church Padungan is seeking ‘one-to-one financial assistance’ from the Sarawak government to complete the construction of the new church.
St Peter’s Church Rector Reverend Father Vincent Chin who is also the church Rector hopes that as the Sarawak government has been offering such financial assistance to NGOs in the construction of administrative centres and buildings, it will also extend the same form of aid to St Peter’s Church Padungan which is in the midst of building a new church building.
“The total cost of the church is RM38 million. It is our hope that the Sarawak government will help us with RM19 million and we will continue to raise the remaining RM19 million,” Chin told DayakDaily.
He said the church has so far raised RM11 million, and is a long way from achieving RM38 million if the Sarawak government does not lend a helping hand.
It is his belief that upon completion, the Gothic church will not only serve the faithful by providing them a conducive place for worship, with its grandeur of stained glass window panels, pointed arches and flying buttresses, but the church itself will be a must-visit landmark for travellers and visitors.
“It will be a tourist attraction in and of itself. Apart from that, its existence will be a physical manifestation of Sarawak’s religious harmony as it will stand side by side with the famous Floating Mosque, the upcoming Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu Temple and the historical Tua Pek Kong Temple, as iconic religious buildings in Kuching,” said Chin.
He said apart from the church’s stained glass windows and pointed arches, there will also be a bell tower which will chime hourly.
“The church will not only add colour to Kuching’s landscape with its existence but upon completion, it will bring forth the sound of peace and harmony every hour where every chime will remind Kuchingites that Sarawak is the land of religious freedom and racial harmony,” said Chin.
An application to Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) for financial aid has been submitted and the church is hoping for a favourable outcome, said Chin. — DayakDaily
