The ruins of St. Paul’s Church rest on the top of St. Paul’s hill overlooking Malacca (UNESCO world heritage site).

Interior of St. Paul’s Church. All photos by John Hunter, see more of my photos of Malaysia.

The is part of the Malacca Museum Complex comprising the A Famosa ruins, the Stadthuys and other historical buildings.

Overlooking the A Famosa ruins (about in the center of the photo) from St. Paul’s Hill.

The original church was a simple chapel built in 1521.

View of Malacca from the interior of St. Paul’s Church.

In 1548, St. Francis Xavier with the help of fellow Jesuits, 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 perhaps the first school in the modern sense to be established on the Malay peninsula.

View out to Straits of Malacca from St. Paul’s Hill

The conquest of Malacca by the Dutch in 1641 saw the church change hands (to Dutch reformed). Over time it fell into disuse. When the British occupied Malacca in 1824, the church was used as a powder magazine and was allowed to deteriorate further.

Vendors inside of St. Paul’s Church, selling paintings and drawing. Also a musician playing for tips.

The site is a nice place to visit on a walk around historic Malacca.

Sparrow on walls of St. Paul’s Church

Related: Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, Malacca – Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (Temple of Green Cloud), Malacca – Street Art in Malacca – Masjid Jamek, Kuala Lumpur