Chapter 27: The Old Chapel at Signal Hill, Kota Kinabalu

The Covid-19 pandemic has irreversibly changed our perception of what a church is. For ages. we have been used to "going to Church every Sunday morning or evening for some". But since the lockdown in early 2020, congregations throughout the world could no longer meet inside a church building. The only alternative is to meet in virtual gathering online.

Recently, we talked about how church gatherings and liturgy have changed and evolved over the years. Many found it hard to believe that BCCM KK during her initial years in the 1950's and early 1960's, men and women were seated separately - the ladies at the right side of the aisle while the men were at the left. Male and female elders always sat at the front pew of the church hall. As a young lad, the duties of the elders were observed to be basically confined to two: as bell-ringer (male) and collectors of offerings! Over the years slowly and steadily, I observed that some gutsy couples decided to sit together. When there was no opposition, more and more joined in and by the time BCCM KK moved to its present premise at Dah Yeh Villa, the segregation has become a thing of the past!

BCCM KK started as a Hakka speaking Congregation and the English Congregation was only started in November 1962 (Read here). I had all along been with the Chinese speaking Congregation and moved to BCCM KK (English) only in 1979. Somehow, since BCCM KK(E) was started by an American pastor, "segregation" was not part of its past practice!

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The last major renovation carried out to the old chapel was done just over ten years ago. It involved the shifting of the main entrance which used to face east to the opposite western end. The hall once cooled by multiple ceiling fans has been fitted with wall-mounted air-conditioners. Its exterior has been retained thus keeping its original aesthetic appearance. This old building together with the Atkinson Clock Tower and the Australia Place are some of the remnant heritage buildings left from those bygone years. In 1988, the old church building became the STS Chapel when the compound was taken over by the Sabah Theological Seminary. 

The very last major event held at this old chapel which I attended was the wedding of my nephew, Calvin and Stephanie back in June 2018.

The Chapel was well decorated for the wedding occasion.

Current 2020 Vs 1960's

The open space which used to be at the back of the Chapel is now at its front. This little flat compound was once the favourite place of young boys and girls of the Chinese Primary School during the school recess in those bygone years. Little boys and girls spread out in groups played hopscotch, rope skipping, glass marbles ........ Now, in the quietness and tranquility, jovial burst of shout and intermittent laughter of the carefree kids seem to still reverberate in the air. 

Current 2020 Vs 1960's

When Lok Yuk Schools (Chinese Primary, English Primary and English Secondary) were operating around the Chapel premise, the Chapel had multiple uses. Besides hosting the weekly Sunday service, it was used for conferences, youths retreats, musicals and dramas. During certain weekday, the Chapel was used as venue for school assembly. Students of the English Primary and Secondary grouped by classes walked the long concrete stairs to assemble at the Chapel. In those days, teachers and students of all faiths met under one roof without fear of offending others or being offended. Sadly, Malaysia has since regressed tremendously in religious tolerance and acceptance!

Current 2020 Vs 1960's

Current 2020 Vs 1965

Current View.

While the open space fronting the Chapel was favourite playground for young boys and girls, the church veranda and patio were favourite hang-out of the senior boys!

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The Sanctuary

Presentation of Hymn by Church Choir before Evangelistic Drama.

Evangelistic Drama (1970)

Choir practice after usual Sunday worship service.

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Old entrance archway

Today, the old chapel, once called the "Borneo Basel Self-Established Church, Jesselton" and tucked in thick forest atop the ridge of Signal Hill still exudes its historicity and elegance albeit its presence is forgotten sometimes. As in the case of some of the historical buildings in KK, it survived the ravages of the Japanese Occupation of Borneo from 1941 - 1945. Since the opening of the Chapel, scores of worshipers, teachers, students, rich and poor who had entered through its doors had indeed been blessed!

A Teacher who Loves Photography: Ed Greenawald

In November 2017, I received a parcel sent all the way from Greenboro, North Carolina in USA. The parcel contained 155 pieces of black and while photos. These photos taken during the 1960's were sent to me by a former teacher of mine, an American who was sent by the Lutheran Church of America (LCA) to teach in Lok Yuk Secondary School, Jesselton back in the 60's.

After more than half a century, Mr. Edward Greenawald, still a bachelor and in advancing age, has decided to pass these old photos to someone who may have some use of them. Indeed, they prove to be. Some of these old historical photos have since been selected by the School Management Board and put up on display along the "History Walk" of SM Lok Yuk in Likas. 

Lok Yuk Secondary School is fortunate to have a teacher likes Mr. Edward Greenawald who loves photography and  had spent hours capturing many moments of his life spent in that school back in the 60's.

Almost all his students remember him as a teacher always cladded in his signature Khaki short. He is easy going, friendly and approachable and is one of the most liked teachers in  the school. It's no wonder that after more than fifty years, his ex-students, many in their late sixties and seventies are still enthusiastic to get connected with him. He did make a difference to the lives of students he came across in those days long faded into history!

Edward posed with another LCA teacher at their residence at Kampong Basel. Kampong Basel is now where Wisma BCCM, the headquarters of Basel Christian Church of Malaysia is situated.

I remember him more as my Maths teacher and to a lesser extent my special English teacher. As my first Maths teacher in my secondary school, I did well under his tutoring. He had his unique way of motivating students to love Mathematics. I remember in one of the Maths exam, he set "bonus" questions in addition to the normal set of exam questions. The idea was that if a student could not answer some of the normal questions, he/she could attempt the bonus questions. Marks scored for the correct answers in the bonus questions would come in handy for those students who did not do so well in the normal questions. I answered correctly all the normal questions as well as bonus questions. Of course, the full mark is still 100!

When we transitioned from our Chinese Primary School to the English medium secondary school, our English, both spoken and written was horrendous. The school management recognized this and set up special English class to improve our command of English. Mr. Greensward was assigned as our class special English teacher. Each lesson lasted one hour every afternoon from 2pm to 3pm for all Form 1 students. These lessons were meant to improve our pronunciation and grammar. The teaching/learning session was conducted similar to the liturgical response between the leader and his congregation. It went something likes this.....

Teacher: I go to school.

Students in unison: I go to school.

Teacher: We.

Students in unison: We go to school.

Teacher: He.

Students in unison: He goes to school.

Teacher: Now.

Students in unison: He is going to school now.

Teacher: Yesterday.

Students in unison: He went to school yesterday.

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My ex-classmates still grin whenever they recall this chanting type of language lesson, sometimes even therapeutic!

Left: Edward Greenawald in the 1960's and Right: Current.

Year 1965

Mr. Greenawald was relaxing with a group of Form 1 students during the morning break by the old Chapel. He was indeed easy going and students could hang around with him like buddies. Blogger is at left.

Teaching staff of 1965  (taken in Dec 1965)
posed in front of the old staff room at the
old school premise at Signal Hill, KK.
Ed is at back row 4th from right.

Amazingly, after more than half a century, the old school block where the staff room was housed is still around. The building has become the married couples students quarters of the Sabah Theological Seminary.

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A number of these photographs have since been selected for display in the "Historical Corridor" of the current school premise in Likas - a corridor within the school compound dedicated to displaying historical photos of the early years of the school.