Central Jakarta, January 30, 2026 - Pastor of GBI Court Mawar Saron, Pdt. Yohannes Nahuway, M.Th., together with the team made a friendly visit to the Anglican Church located on Jl. Arief Rachman Judge No. 5, Menteng, Central Jakarta. The church known as All Saints Anglican Church Jakarta is one of the oldest English-speaking churches in Indonesia and has a long historical value in the journey of Christianity in the archipelago.
In that meeting, the GBI Mawar Saron group was welcomed by the Leader of the Anglican Church in Indonesia, Mr. Revd. Stevanus Mudjianto (Acting Dean). The atmosphere of the meeting was warm and full of dialogue. Both sides discussed the history of each church, the richness of the liturgy, and the meaning of the symbols used in worship. In particular, the discussion highlights the Anglican liturgical tradition that emphasises a balance between structured worship, Bible reading, shared prayer, and symbolic meaning in every element of worship.
On that occasion, the Shepherd of the GBI Session Mawar Saron also received souvenirs in the form of The Prayer Book of The Anglican Church in Indonesia, an official prayer book that becomes a liturgical guideline in the Anglican Church service in Indonesia.
A Brief History of Anglican Church in Indonesia
The Anglican Church in Indonesia is rooted in the ministry of the London Missionary Society which established All Saints' in 1819 as a centre for training missionaries to China.
The church building was originally made of bamboo and was known as Engelsche Kerk (The Church of England), before it was rebuilt in 1831 in the Georgian architectural style that still stands today, although it has undergone some adjustments. The ministry has grown significantly since the arrival of Reverend Walter Medhurst in 1822, who expanded the ministry to the Chinese, Malay, and British communities in Batavia. In addition to being a clergyman, Medhurst is also known as the pioneer of Chinese-language Christian publishing. Over time, this church has become increasingly characterised Anglican through the addition of altar rooms and sacred places in the mid-19th century, as well as maintaining the simplicity of ornaments that reflect the English Protestant tradition.
Historically, the Anglican Church is rooted in the English Church centred in England and developed with a distinctive liturgical tradition, without leaving behind the foundation of the apostolic faith and the historical confession of the Christian faith. In the dialogue, the Pastor of the GBI Mawar Saron Assembly also briefly shared the history of GBI Mawar Saron as part of the Bethel Indonesia Church that continues to grow in the ministry and shepherding of the congregation.
The complete history of GBI Mawar Saron can be read through the following link: THE HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BETHEL CHURCH IN INDONESIA, THE ROSE SARON KELAPA GADING CONGREGATION, NORTH JAKARTA
This meeting is not only an event for inter-church fellowship, but also a momentum to broaden horizons on the richness of diverse Christian traditions. Both GBI MawarSaron and the Anglican Church have the same calling in preaching the Gospel, although with different liturgical and historical patterns. This visit is expected to be the first step for the establishment of better communication and cooperation in the spirit of the brotherhood of the body of Christ in Indonesia.
Lord Jesus bless us all.
Greetings of abundance to GBI Mawar Saron 2.0.
