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Francis Xavier Church (built 1849)

This Gothic church was built by the French priest Father P. Fabre in 1849. It is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier who was an one of the earliest Catholic missionaries active in southeast Asia. The church sits where an old Portuguese mission once stood.

In the course of his missionary work, Father Fabre developed a close affinity with the Malay people and became a Professor of Malay in Paris. He also wrote several books on Javanese and Malay languages.

The church is essentially identical to its original construction, except for the portico which was added in 1963. The interior is little changed except for the floor which was cemented in 1920.