
I grow up in Tranquerah, my first years of living were in Tranquerah and Limbongan. I used to go to Sacred Heart Chapel, Sacred Heart Chapel was run by St Peter’s Church, the priest of St Peter’s Church. In 1800 in the Dutch period, there was already a large Christian community staying in Tranquerah. The reason they built this church in the second half of the 18th century was to cater for these people, so they can have their own church nearby, to make the people around Tengkera to come together so they need not go to St Peter’s Church to do their prayers, their services nearby for them. So that’s why the SHC was started, and that’s the same reason why the Assumption Church was started in Praya Lane.
In Banda Hilir there was also a large Portuguese Eurasian group. Whereas in Tranquerah it was a mixture of the Eurasian group. A lot of the Dutch Eurasians who were fairly middle class lived in Tranquerah.
When we talk about Eurasians and Tranquerah it includes Portuguese Street as well, Jalan Portuguese at the temple here. The people were there, now no more. They were all part of Tengkera chapel (SHC). Even in Heeren Street there were also few Eurasian families at that time. So Tengkera Chapel served the needs of the people. But in the British period, when the church applied for land, the British would only give leasehold land for 9 years. It was such for a long time, until early 1970s when government wanted to take back the land. The church asked to buy or extend the lease, but the government did not want to extend. St Peter’s is lucky because Dutch title, so freehold. This is leasehold, government just give the temporary licence, means every year need to pay a fee. It’s not much but no permanency. I don’t have a year, but I know in the 1970’s it was gradually closed down.