Thousands expected at St Peter’s Church Padungan consecration
- BT
- Jun 25
- 3 min read

KUCHING, 25 June 2025 – The new St Peter’s Church in Padungan is all set for a week-long Consecration Celebration from June 28 to July 5. The celebration begins on Saturday, June 28 at 10am with its Official Opening Ceremony. Invited guests of honour will officiate the opening ceremony, joined by His Grace Archbishop Dato Dr Simon Poh, along with other church and community leaders, generous donors, and parishioners. Around 1,500 guests are expected to attend the opening ceremony, which will witness the church building officially handed over from contractor Perbena Emas Sdn Bhd to the Archbishop. A special book commemorating the journey will also be launched.
The Consecration Mass, led by Archbishop Simon Poh, will be held on the next evening (Sunday, June 29 at 7pm). Around 6,000 people are expected to attend this special mass, with around 1,000 people seated inside the new church itself while tents set up around the church will cater to some 4,000 more parishioners, and the old church building to be made available for another 800 or so celebrants.

In anticipation of the large number of people coming for the Consecration Mass, visitors are advised to park their vehicles at public car parks outside of the church grounds, including Yun Phin Commercial Building, Bangunan Binamas & DUBS Carpark, Dewan Masyarakat Kuching, Hokkien Garden Carpark, Jalan Ang Cheng Ho Commercial Area, MBKS Building & MBKS Boulevard, Travillion Commercial Centre, Jalan Padungan Commercial Area, Song Kheng Hai Hawker Centre, Song Kheng Hai Rugby Field, and Jubilee Ground Carpark. Do note that parking within the church grounds is reserved for invited guests.
“The Trinity Methodist Church is also kind enough to allow visitors coming for the celebration at St Peter’s Church to park within their vicinity – a show of goodwill which we are very grateful for,” Rector of St Peter’s Church, Rev. Fr. Vincent Chin told the media at a press conference this morning.

Traffic around the church is also expected to be exceptionally heavy, especially on June 29. Therefore, the public is advised to use alternative routes or resort to carpooling, and perhaps e-hailing services if possible.
Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Vincent pointed out that guests attending the Consecration Mass are to enter the church compound from designated gates. The general seating area in the tent is accessible from the gate beside Gate B and Gate C. Invited guests should enter through Gate D. Please note that Gate A and Gate C will be closed.

Throughout the week, St Peter’s Church will host a number of events. These include the 4070 Celebration to honour Fr. Vincent Chin’s 40 years as a priest and his 70th birthday; Eucharistic Masses held in various languages; and a sunset Mass organised by St Joseph’s Cathedral.
“St Peter’s Church is more than a place of worship; it is a beacon of heritage, spirituality, and community for the city of Kuching. We are honoured to invite the faithful and the wider community to witness and be part of this milestone,” said Rev. Fr. Vincent.
He added that on Tuesday evening, there will be a ticketed concert titled ‘Echoes of Love – An Evening of Music’, which will feature local and visiting performers, including special performances on the church’s digital organ, custom built by world-renowned brand Allen, with the ability to replicate the sounds of a traditional pipe organ. Surely, the concert is something that many, especially classical music afficionados, will be looking forward to.

Rev. Fr. Vincent also said that in conjunction with the said Consecration Celebration, St Peter’s Church will be closed to public from June 28 to July 5.
Located in the heart of Padungan, the new St Peter’s Church not only serves as a place of worship, spiritual renewal, and community, but it is also growing to be one of Kuching City’s must-see attractions, with its stunning architecture that stands out amidst an urban surrounding.
For more details on the Consecration Celebration and the full list of events, visit www.stpeterschurchkuching.org.