All Souls' Church, Cameron Highlands
All Souls’ Church is located in the Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. Founded in 1958, the church is affiliated to the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia and the Council of Churches, Malaysia.
History
All Souls’ Church, previously known as the Cameron Highlands Church, was erected in 1958. It was initially attached to St. John's Church in Ipoh, Perak. The then committee members were Captain Hugh Fitzherbert Bloxham, Mr. E.G. Waller, Major Raymond Thomas, Major W.R. Stokes, Mr. Hogarth, Mr. Whitelaw, Rev. G.A. Williamson, Mr. Sales, Miss Dove and Miss Anne L.P. Griffith-Jones.Plaque commemorating the opening of All Souls' Church. |
The history of ASC dates back to the 1950s when the Vicar of St. John’s Church in Perak and other expatriate clergy held regular services at the Cameron Highlands Hotel, the Eastern Hotel, Slim School and Tanglin Boarding School. Church records show that the Rt. Rev. Anthony Charles Dumper visited the congregation at Slim School in early 1950. The first confirmation service was held in 1952
During the Malayan Emergency there was a rapid increase in the number of British troops stationed in the Cameron Highlands. Army chaplains visited the “Camerons” to hold weekly services at either the Eastern Hotel or Slim School.
In early 1958, Miss Anne L.P. Griffith-Jones, OBE transferred a piece of land near the Slim School grounds to the Diocese on the understanding that a church would be built on it.
The construction of the church began in 1958. The British Armed Forces provided a dismantled Nissen hut for erection as a church and also donated a sum of RM$1,000 towards the total erection costs of RM$4,643. Part of this money also came from the European planter families from Kampong Kuantan and Kuala Selangor.
The erection of the church was completed in September 1958. The name "All Souls’ Church" was given at its consecration on 20 April 1959 by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Henry W. Baines, Bishop of Singapore and Malaya to commemorate the soldiers who died in the two World Wars.The first service was conducted by Rev. G.A. Williamson on 11 September 1958.
At the outset, ASC was ministered to by chaplains of the British Armed Forces and the expatriate clergy from the Overseas Missionary Fellowship who were seconded to the Diocese of West Malaysia. Among these were the Rev. G.A. Williamson, Rev. Whitaker, Rev. C.K. Davis, Rev. K. Oliver, Rev. P. Scott, Rev. J.G.C. Thistle, Rev. T.O. Sturdy, Rev. G. Baker, Rev. Donald H. Temple, Rev. Vokes. Rev. Fred Collard and Rev. David H. Uttley. All Souls’ Church later became a part of the Parish of South Perak and in 1986 it became a member church of the Parish of Batang Padang, Tapah, Perak.
Since its origination, All Souls’ Church has been governed by an independent committee comprising lay members of the church. The first Malaysian clergy who ministered at ASC, were the clergy from Emmanuel Church in Tapah, Perak. They were the Rev. Moses Elisha Ponniah, Rev. Samuel D. John, Rev. S. Alakumalai and Rev. Steven Abbarow.
The first resident priest to be appointed to All Souls’ Church was Rev. K. Kalaimuthu who was licensed by the late Bishop Tan Sri John G. Savarimuthu on 21 August 1994. He was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Vijendra Daniel in November 1997. On 30 August 1998 the Bishop Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Lim Cheng Ean inaugurated ASC as a Missionary District, with Rev. Dr. Vijendra Daniel serving as the resident priest.
On 1 January 2007, Rev. David Cheong took over from Rev. Dr. Vijendra Daniel as Priest-in-Charge of All Souls’ Church. He was succeeded by Rev. Jeremiah Lee, Rev. Simon Soh and Rev. James Ming Sabaran. On 1 January 2018, Rev. Steven Raj succeeded Rev. James Ming Sabaran as Priest-in-Charge of All Souls' Church.
Services
The church runs four services throughout the week. All services involve lay participation.The mid-week Holy Communion Service is conducted on Wednesday, the Kg. Telimau Holy Communion Service, the Tamil Holy Communion Service and the weekend Holy Communion Service.