History

Imagine a small wooden chapel from 1883 slowly growing into the church that stands here today. The first church on this site, dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, was completed in 1883. The building you see now came later, constructed in 1927 under the guidance of the late Rev. Fr. C. Saleilles, making this Johor Bahru's oldest church. More than a century of prayer has passed through these walls, and it still shows no sign of stopping.

Why It Matters

In the middle of a busy city centre, this church has never lost its role as a gathering place.

The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception remains a dynamic centre of worship and community life today, right at the heart of Johor Bahru.

For a building this old, it is remarkably far from being a museum piece.

TRAVEL TIPS

• You can travel to the church from JOTIC by bus. Find the best route for you here. It's also a 15-minute walk from JOTIC. Visitors are welcome to attend mass or explore the church grounds, though modest dress is recommended out of respect for the space.

  
  

• Visitors of all faiths are welcome to enter the church grounds outside of mass times, though modest dress is recommended out of respect. Sunday masses typically begin early in the morning, with additional services in Mandarin and Tamil later in the day worth checking ahead if you'd like to attend or simply observe respectfully from the back. The church's blue-and-white neo-Gothic facade, framed by its tall spire, also makes for a striking photo spot, especially in the softer light of late afternoon.

💡 Did You Know?

• It's the oldest church in Johor Bahru, and the government agreed in 2022 to allocate RM3 million in funding to preserve it as a recognized heritage site.