Acknowledgements
The author gratefully acknowledges Rev. Fr. George Omuto for sharing his knowledge, memories, and photographs of Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan. Appreciation is also extended to parish members, local residents, and all individuals who contributed information, guidance, and support during the documentation of this heritage site.
A Hidden Heritage in the Forest: Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan, Kanowit
Hidden within the forests of Kanowit stands one of Sarawak’s oldest surviving Catholic chapels. For more than a century, Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan has served as a place of worship, education, and community life while preserving the architectural traditions of Sarawak’s interior mission settlements. It is a humble yet remarkable wooden chapel that reflects the spiritual and cultural history of Sarawak’s interior communities. Surrounded by forest and accessible through a narrow rural road, the chapel remains deeply connected to the landscape and the people who continue to care for it. The church has been gazetted as Sarawak Heritage in 2025.
The Mill Hill Missionaries commenced their mission in Sarawak in 1881 under the leadership of Reverend Father Thomas Jackson, the first Prefect Apostolic of the newly established mission territory. He was assisted by several Mill Hill missionaries who also served in British North Borneo.
On 10 July 1881, the first two Mill Hill priests arrived in Kuching: Fr. Edmund Dunn and Fr. Aloysius Goossens. This marked the beginning of the Catholic mission’s expansion into Sarawak.A few weeks later, on 24 August 1881, Fr. Thomas Jackson and Fr. Daniel Kilty arrived in Kuching to strengthen the mission effort. Fr. Goossens remained in Kuching to establish the local mission, while Fr. Kilty proceeded to Labuan and Papar in British North Borneo. Fr. Dunn, meanwhile, was entrusted with the challenging task of travelling up the Rajang River to identify suitable locations for future mission stations.
By 1885, the missionaries had begun exploring the upper Rajang region, including the communities of Bawan, Tuah, and Jih, laying the foundations for future Catholic outreach in these remote settlements. In 1898, the missionaries established a chapel at Bawan, near a tributary of the Rajang River. Constructed from durable Bornean ironwood (belian), the chapel served as an outstation of the Kanowit Parish. The church was built under the supervision of Fr. Aloysius Stotter, who served in the area between 1898 and 1900. The completed chapel was officially blessed in 1900, during the tenure of Fr. Adrian Klerk, who was then the priest in charge of the Kanowit mission.
At the beginning it also served as the first school for the Dayaks living along the rivers around that place. It was renovated and consecrated in 1950. It was then The restoration sought to retain the chapel’s original architectural character while improving its structural condition for continued use by the local community.
The Chapel of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic chapel located in Kanowit, Sibu Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. Built in the late nineteenth century, it is regarded as one of the oldest surviving Catholic churches in the state and stands as an important symbol of the early spread of Catholicism among the Iban community. The chapel can accommodate approximately one hundred worshippers at a time. At first glance, the chapel appears simple. Built primarily of timber and raised above the ground in the traditional manner of many rural Sarawak structures, the building reflects vernacular architecture adapted to the tropical environment. Yet behind its simplicity lies a strong sense of history, faith, and community memory.
The chapel’s design carries the character of early mission churches once commonly found throughout the interior of Sarawak. Its steep pitched roof, timber walls, elevated floor structure, and natural ventilation system demonstrate practical responses to heat, humidity, and heavy rainfall. Rather than relying on elaborate ornamentation, the beauty of the chapel lies in its craftsmanship, proportions, and atmosphere.
Inside, the chapel reveals an impressive timber interior with tall blackened hardwood columns rising toward the exposed roof structure. Sunlight filters gently through the windows, illuminating the wooden pews and altar. The space feels intimate and contemplative, preserving the atmosphere of an earlier era of worship in rural Sarawak.
The exposed roof trusses and handcrafted timber framework are particularly significant. They demonstrate traditional construction knowledge and illustrate how local materials and skills were used to create durable communal buildings before the widespread use of concrete and steel in rural settlements. Such structures are increasingly rare today, as many older chapels have been replaced or heavily renovated. The chapel also shows the strong commitment of the local community and the Church, with its construction, restoration, and continued maintenance supported through their collective efforts.
After renovation – the interior view of Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan with timber pews and exposed roof trusses. Photo by the author.
More importantly, the chapel remains a living heritage site rather than merely a historical structure. It continues to function as a place of gathering, prayer, pilgrimage, and intergenerational connection. Young people still visit and participate in activities within the chapel, reflecting its continuing social and spiritual significance within the community.
Today, Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan serves as an important reminder that heritage in Sarawak is not limited to urban monuments or colonial town centres. Hidden within forests and rural communities are places that carry equally valuable stories of belief, craftsmanship, resilience, and cultural continuity. The current priest in charge is Fr. George Omuto Odero, who continues to oversee and support the chapel and its surrounding community.
Young church members cleaning bat droppings inside Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan before Bible study, reflecting the shared responsibility and dedication in preserving this living heritage site. Photo by the author.
Why the Chapel Matters Today
In an era of rapid development and modernization, rural heritage sites such as Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan play an increasingly important role in preserving Sarawak’s cultural identity and collective memory. While cities often receive greater attention in heritage conservation efforts, many significant historical places remain hidden within villages and forest communities, carrying stories that are equally valuable to the history of the state. Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan is more than an old building. It embodies over a century of faith, community cooperation, education, and cultural continuity. Generations of families have gathered here for worship, celebrations, and community activities, creating memories that form an important part of the social history of the area. The chapel also stands as a testament to traditional craftsmanship, demonstrating how local materials and indigenous building knowledge were adapted to create durable structures suited to Sarawak’s tropical environment.
The recent restoration of the chapel highlights the importance of community participation in heritage preservation. The involvement of parish members, local residents, and younger generations demonstrates that heritage conservation is not merely about protecting physical structures, but also about sustaining the values, traditions, and sense of belonging associated with them. Such efforts help ensure that cultural knowledge and historical awareness are passed on to future generations. As development continues to transform the landscape, documenting and preserving chapels such as this becomes increasingly important. These buildings are not only architectural artefacts but also repositories of memory, identity, and lived experience. Their survival depends not only on physical conservation, but also on continued recognition of their cultural, historical, and community significance.
At the same time, Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan offers opportunities for education, research, heritage tourism, and community engagement. It reminds us that heritage is not confined to museums, monuments, or urban centres. It also exists in living places where history, faith, and daily life continue to intersect. Preserving such sites helps strengthen cultural identity while fostering a deeper appreciation of the diverse heritage that shapes Sarawak today. Despite its historical importance, the chapel continues to face challenges, including limited infrastructure and ongoing maintenance needs. As Sarawak advances initiatives in heritage conservation and cultural tourism, there is potential for government agencies, heritage institutions, utility providers, and the wider public to work together in supporting the long-term preservation of this century-old structure. Such collaborative efforts can serve as a meaningful example of how historic heritage buildings may coexist with modern development while remaining relevant to contemporary communities.
Sacred Heart Chapel Bawan therefore remains far more than a chapel hidden within the forest. It stands as a quiet yet enduring testament to the relationship between faith, community, craftsmanship, and heritage in the heart of Sarawak. Its continued preservation ensures that the stories, traditions, and values it embodies will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.
List of references:
- Historical photograph courtesy of SFX Information Archive
- Mill Hill Mission Archives
- Parish Records of St. Francis Xavier, Kanowit
- Oral History Interview with Fr. George
- sfxinfo.org