Dutch Church, Historic Dutch Church with Unique Tombstone Flooring

Intersection of Church St and Middle St

Surrounded by various tombstones

4.2

Introduction

The Dutch Church, also known as the Dutch Reformed Church, was founded in 1640. It underwent renovations from 1752 to 1755. The Dutch commander Casparus de Jong and his wife funded the construction as a gesture of gratitude for their first child. The church was built on the site of a 17th-century Portuguese convent, with a beautiful white exterior. The interior is simple, with only a few stained glass windows and a large canopy above the pulpit on the left side of the church. What sets this church apart is that the floor and outer walls are covered with tombstones from the old Dutch cemetery dating back to 1662. One of the most fascinating tombstones belongs to Commander E.A.H. Abraham, which is adorned with an hourglass and a skull. The church also houses an organ built in 1760 and a pulpit made of East Indies ebony brought from Malaysia. Every Sunday, there is a live sermon delivered by a pastor in the church.