St. Thomas Cathedral

The first Anglican missionary, the Revd. Francis Thomas McDougall, priest and doctor (who later became the first Bishop of the Diocese) came to Sarawak on 29th June 1848. The present Church compound, which was an area of jungle covered hill behind the old town was given to the Church by the Rajah and on 25th August 1849 this site Dr. McDougall began the erection of a fine wooden church capable of holding  250 persons. On 22nd August 1851 Bishop Wilson of Calcutta (within whose jurisdiction Kuching then lay) consecrated this Church to the glory of God and in honour of St. Thomas, the Apostle.

               

The foundation stone for the present Cathedral was laid on 15th October 1953 by H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent and the building was completed by May the following year. The Consecration of the Cathedral took place on 9th June 1956 at the hand of Bishop Nigel Cornwall.