Architectural inculturation and transformation case study on the three catholic churches in java

It would be then djoglo-form as the head-form of a church building, but raises two options: one can question the priest-chorus places on the edge of this djoglo whether the application

APPENDIX 1 ARTICLES

St. Claverbond Magazine, 1929

St Claverbond Magazine, 1929:

Is Catholic Church-Building in Javanese Style?

By H Caminada, S.J

(19 Follow-up, p 316; fortieth vol)

Of all their building forms on Central Java, Djoglo-type seems the most capable of

conferring for a R.K church It is a form in which the building is the most developed In the

past, Djoglo is only for Javanese nobility reservations and is still the stamp of family name’s

load bearing and dignity Above is in the base square, and therefore more suitable than the

kampoeng (limasan) type; that has a right angle to the fore, with long side to its base It would

be then djoglo-form as the head-form of a church building, but raises two options: one can question the priest-chorus places on the edge of this djoglo whether the application of the

central building of our Catholic churches is by the altar (whole in the middle), therefore the

four sakagoeroe's tusschen (head pillars) get its award This last raises many practical

objections with regard to the first way, so that would be far preferable The priest-chorus

would have been as in a separate building hereby able to join in djoglo-form and special in

“witana” form

There is still the choice “tusschen” as an open or a closed construction The first,

which the goals we have already been said, is not possible, unless the location (“farm”) has a

wall in surrounded: the gate “tusschen” in the wall and it is in fact would be a screen of the building (“banon kelir”) to make, so as in the some houses, in the Djocjakarta Palace several

times can be found But then fencing and form of a whole church building and the parish can achieve that, without the “farm” of the Church to enter

From the others side is for the safety; more a closed methods of accustom construction and this seems also comfortable to the most people In the house of Javanese

prijaji's (nobility) custom, we can see a “farm” still conclude with a wall, through a gallery, in

this case it would be able to process “status” fitting

In order to clarify what happens to our today’s economic challenge, Javanese building (if they can achieve it), and also by way of taster on p 20, 21 and 22 displayed a draft of a R.K Church in Central Javanese style The church and priest-chorus both are raised in a

closed djoglo-form: the first to point `bovendak, the second to finish the four upper surfaces in

a short balk The rafters lie with both djoglo's light-sources The priest chorus builds as the sacristy, as in “emper” (in order to bring choir in the manner as in the usual western churches,

but here the roof is low; so make it impossible to be similar with western churches) However,

in both tower such a far taller affixing meters (making it into account that the Javanese sit in the long land) The height would be able to use for the choir voice, left as the doop-kapel (chapel specific for baptism) I refer here still on a typical Javanese construction, which is can make also in the above harmony As to mention by the church door, they must first be on a stepping-stone before the “mats” (carpet) can take place This height floor arises in the most

houses of well-off Javanese, not all in the pendopo, but also in the house behind, generally

low-floor also runs by along the sides However, in order to save more space, it is in the draft has been omitted

It would perhaps bring an opposed to the Javanese church construction above, the

great of the poles that apparently want to support the roof The poles, except the four saka goeroe's, however, are relatively thin; nobody will have the courage to be aware It is especially in a Javanese pendopo has burden to make such magnitude figure pillars

Nevertheless, it would, if they wanted, this objection for large part by the modern technology

under capture may be, without its being Djoglo-form thereby prejudicing, provided that at

least two rows pillars let alone

A different problem, which could eventually make that ultimately, is the form of the church It is not much different from mosque building; and on a “mosque similar” church our Catholic Javanese would never be satisfied I must admit, that means in the first glance,

people might think of a mosque The pointed point and the opening “tusschen” of the two

upper roofs are indeed to each mosque own Indeed, the roof is also point to the ordinary

pendopo-form, and the light-and the scene will take place there was often in closed dwelling

construction-compare e.g the women stay of the Crown Prince of Djocja and the bangsal kantjana (open throne-room) in the Palace In addition to the draft, the missing “serambi”,

something fundamental to the mosque type, and act for two small towers in the place, what is never be found at a mosque Before we can finish leaves to answer a question: will the Javanese church construction nicer than the church that followed the Catholic construction characteristics? We cannot deny that many Javanese, under the incidence of European culture,

in their house construction (a predilection for the construction) showed characteristics of the western This will mainly take place here; because the Javanese architecture has not yet been able to adjust to the modern (especially of the hygiene and social development)

In addition, it is more simply to adopt the western style church building or objects So then many unintentionally people, they build such a specific characteristic methods of construction of a Catholic Church In the long term, once at beginning, they will have made with Javanese church construction, and it is to be expected, that most Javanese more taste in their own methods of construction, as they will find in the exotic forms For them, which are practiced architectural and familiar to, not only with the Javanese artistic expression, but also with the art history of Catholic Church and especially for a Catholic “house of prayer”; is an open extensive field to develop their artistic ideas Especially for the Javanese artist, which are better than Westerners, their feelings to savor his country can interpret them, is a great area for deployment of the truly Javanese construction and sculpture and this would be a wonderful opportunity to contribute to deepening the religious of Javanese people

St. Claverbond Magazine, 1929 

It may sometimes be useful to focus on this last factor, because this is a demand with which we build our church for Javanese will constantly take into account This demand comes not only from the financial conditions, which was found

in every mission area, but also from the fact that we are in church architecture to adapt to the social condition of the Javanese people This applies a fortiori to a village church, because it still will take very long before the welfare of the villagers have a significantly higher level will be achieved

A village church should be simple, suitable with the simple, often the poor of the village houses It should be better if the model were taken from the house of a village chief, but for a church, it should not be more than the Catholics villagers expectation For now, without financial support from the West, they will not be able

to build their own churches

To meet the above demands, we saw it – see picture at page 200 – two turrets

at the front, but on either side of the main entrance, leaving enough space to later be able to place As a model for the ship, we chose the less precious limasan form, and well as appearing in the Kraton, with an opening between the top – and bottom- roof The sanctuary was in joglo form (witana form), but with a groove between the roofs

A new construction is the connection – roof between the two housing types, but that also can be omitted Then the sanctuary is close each to other

We can simultaneously overcome a problem that probably has been risen by any other reader, why two models of houses are made all in one This question is easily answered, as I previously imparted, there is a Javanese house, we take as an example of a wealthy Javanese, it contains a pendopo building in joglo form, a pringgitan building in limasan form, and back home in limasan or joglo form Thus, there are three separated roofs Yet no Javanese saying, “How strange this man builds three houses in a row”, but such construction is very common and also considers the

whole house The same case can be found in a mosque, which consists of two different roof structures Moreover, it would be a contrast if we construct a large building that is bigger than surrounding houses, and the performance that would be more equal in material demands - iron contruction! – will increase the costs too high

In contrast to the ordinary Javanese houses roof, the roofs of this church are higher The slope of the lower roof of the Javanese house is about 15°; however, for this church, it is more than 30° This is done only for practical reasons Indeed, in a larger angle, there is not much danger during heavy tropical rains, but it can be an expensive wood paneling on the inside of the roof

What material is needed by such a church building? The skeleton is, like all Javanese buildings made from wood, by its ingenious design easily resist against earthquake, not overwhelming The 6 main pillars of A, B, C, D, E, F, see drawing p.202 – and 4 saka guru’s – G, H, I, K – from the sanctuary support a large part of the building Ideally, these pillars are made of teak wood

The closure consists of half brick wall, or, better still, from whipped potassium stones, excellent resistance to burglary attempts The roofing employed tiles or may

be, if one prefers, sirap (boards of ironwood)

For the finishing of exterior and interior, it can easily take into account the financial capacity of the parishioners, and with cash contributions, for the decoration

of the connecting beams the main pillars of Javanese carving to decorate, as this is found into the homes of wealthy Javanese, and then with gold and red and green paint

to make them polychrome

Whether this adaptation challenges the desired direction for our Catholic Javanese, the need to teach our Javanese parishioners is a must Especially this will depend on the development of the Javanese house architecture, either in the long term will adapt to the western design, either, despite Western influences in its original form will be able to maintain

With the housing in the village one will be an adaptation to preliminary models do not need to fear

St. Claverbond Magazine, 1935 

St Claverbond Magazine, 1935

The H Heart-Church at Poegeran

By ADR Soesanta

Several months ago, it was notified in the Indische sheets, that the mission to

Djocjakarta was last, after 15 years of tireless work, effecting under the leadership of the famous priest H.E.F van Driessche S.J., a pretty church building was able to give to God, in the district of Bintaran That church building, which is indeed a dignified residence was offered to Christ in the eucharis, see vol 1934 P, 114 and following

What really gratitude were at a time when all hearts full of joy And now, after about four months, we again witness the inauguration of another new church; we also see a building and construction, designed by a talented architect, Th van Oyen in a Javanese environmentally appropriate style

While the construction of church undertaking of Holand Betonmaat quickly progressed, they drew the attention and got interest of the European society as of the indigenous of Catholics Every day there were hundreds of Javanese come to see how far the construction had been advanced After the long waited, the day of the inauguration finally broke up On Sunday 8 July, the Church is solemnly to be worn to God On this day, the Church, built of very strong materials that have been in a building, that on all sides carried light and power, and that all relentlessly approaching to the God's altar, attracted so many people Hundreds of the Catholic people from far of the areas of the Djocjakarta region, at Saturday night, came to the city, then at the following morning they helped in the ceremony

No wonder therefore, that the wide parties were around the church and the parish, as well as the streets in the district Poegeran, whether in the outside area, also present thousands of interested parties, including many curious Muslims and people with other religions When the clock venerable stroke seven hours, pater Dr A van Kalken S.J appeared, in order to carry out the opening remarks

The deepen impression made by the devote attitude of misdienars, which preceded

the priests in the area of church The inauguration of the Church had taken place from the outside, followed by many prayers of the Javanese Catholic Church, in which the blessing of God with the prayer While the ceremony was still in the process, the church doors were opened And the parade of priests and misdienaars entranced to the church building, with formal and quiet, and which respect to the names placed in the table or on the carpet All the mass then also entrance to the new building, carefully followed what the priests did At the time, the Church was filled until the final and yet there were still hundreds of the people in the square, with no opportunity to capture a space within the church

For the altar the litany of All Saints Day was prayed, deployed by the Javanese choir under the leadership of Mr J Prawira Soemarta

It is now once again God so clearly showed His richly creating on Djocjakarta There were indeed over Catholic Javanese, which by their very lively testimony of resignation and their deep belief in God After the submission by priest (and help of the assistance), the within Church were devoted; and then followed by the solemn high mass, including a short encouraging speech took by Father A Soekiman, S.J

Under the Sacrament of Eucharist, for the first time in this new church building, hundreds and hundreds of people came forward to pick the Heart In the area of Church there was a statue as a contract to the divine heart of Jesus, see Figure P 51 How is Jesus, in his divine heart has felt thousands His “sheep” collected for his effigy!

They knew how to encourage the Javanese, when they speak with one voice, which allowed to the divine Heart that also was punctured for faith, all caused by love After the solemn commitment to Jesus (Sacrament Eucharist), it seemed full out of the His chest, radiated on the church "To you, o King of the centuries"

After the last voice of the organ, in the Church was finally returned to the Javanese traditional music, in which the Javanese passionately expressed their love to God

Yes truly thank God for blessing all hearts Thank God and love towards God; thank also the missionaries Jesuit, for all their effort in order to bring the knowledge of Jesus Christ

For the reception, which is followed after the mass, was also very interesting for both the Javanese as well as the representative of European Catholics

The first word took by the venerable father, Dr A van Kalken S.J., which speak in Javanese language to the Javanese Catholics and then in the Dutch language to them; so then Javanese language was about a half His venerable mention was that the new Church had been increased during 75 years labor of the missionaries Jesuit in the Netherlands Eastern Indie It

is clearly as blessing 400 years ago occupation was started in this country but during 50 years (1808 - 1859, was the seed, sown by the missionaries, smothered and further missionary had been made

Jesuit arrived in Netherlands Indie at first on 9 July of the year 1859, so 75 years ago, was driven through systematic and intensive, it was also among many hardship and sacrifices

The venerable missionaries, the Jesuit, so they persecuted as Father Superior, and they were on 9 July, at the day of commemoration of their 75 year olds labor in Netherland Indie, present respectfully to God, nothing better than this church building