The New Sacred Heart Church at Jesselton: Impressive Opening Ceremony

The information regarding the 1938 official opening of the Sacred Heart Church in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) comes from a detailed report published in the British North Borneo Herald on September 16, 1938.

This image shows the Sacred Heart Church in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) shortly after its completion in 1938.

This image was generated using AI, based on original reference material from Fr. Cosmas Lee’s collection, as part of an effort to preserve visual heritage and honour the history he documented.

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16th September, 1938. An event of historic importance at Jesselton was the formal opening of the $14,000 building of the Sacred Heart Church on Sunday the 14th August. Though the finishing touches were yet to be completed, the spacious edifice measuring 140 ft by 42 ft, with seating for over 500 people, presented an attractive appearance when a great concourse of the cosmopolitan population arrived - Published on: Saturday, August 07, 2021 by the Daily Express News Paper. (British North Borneo Herald)

The snippet below specifically mentions Ernest’s wife, which confirms Ernest’s senior status, as only prominent officials and their spouses were listed in the Social and Personal section of the Herald:

“Prominent among those present were Mr. Tay Bee Chuan and family, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. H. Speedy, Mr. James Beatty, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Round Turner, Mrs. E. R. Baker, Mr. A. E. Tremenheere and representatives of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and other associations.”

The turnout at the church was impressive → Many people came | Photo credits: Daily Express

Why this is significant for Ernest Reginald Baker

As a Government Engineer, Ernest's presence at the opening of a $14,000 building was both socially and professionally significant.

• The Building Design: The report mentions that Brother Gregory designed the building but was injured during construction. In such cases, the Government Engineer would have been involved in site inspection or safety oversight.
• The “Mrs. E. R. Baker” mention: In colonial gazettes, listing a wife among prominent attendees indicates her husband held a senior gazetted post.

Connection to the 1938 Herald Report

The September 16, 1938 Herald report aligns with the peak of infrastructure development in the West Coast Residency. At that time, Ernest Reginald Baker served as Executive Engineer.

Historical records indicate that Ernest Reginald Baker arrived in North Borneo in 1914 and served as a senior civil engineer, overseeing major public works before returning to the United Kingdom.

Summary of the 1938 Report

The article documents the formal opening of the $14,000 Sacred Heart Church on Sunday, August 14, 1938. The presence of Mrs. E. R. Baker confirms Ernest’s high-ranking position within the colonial service.

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References and Archival Access

To access the original document of the British North Borneo Herald dated 16 September 1938, official digital and institutional repositories preserving the records of the British North Borneo Chartered Company may be consulted.

1. Digital Access via NewspaperSG (National Library Board, Singapore)

The most direct way to view the original newspaper online is through the National Library Board of Singapore (NLB). As North Borneo (now Sabah) and Singapore were part of the British administrative network, the NLB maintains a comprehensive microfilm archive of the Herald.

• Source Name: The British North Borneo Herald and Fortnightly Record
• Volume: LVI (1938)
• Access Portal: NewspaperSG (National Library Board)

Steps to locate the report:

1. Open the NewspaperSG portal.
2. Select the year 1938.
3. Choose the edition dated 16 September 1938.
4. Browse the pages as originally printed in Sandakan.

2. Physical and Institutional Repositories

For certified copies or higher-resolution archival scans, the following primary repositories may be consulted:

• The British Library (London): Holds official government copies submitted by the British North Borneo Chartered Company. The issue may be located using shelfmark SM 128.
• Sabah State Archives (Kota Kinabalu): Custodian of local physical and microfilm copies of the British North Borneo Herald, including the 16 September 1938 issue.

Key Details to Locate in the Original Document

• Article Title: “The New Sacred Heart Church at Jesselton: Impressive Opening Ceremony.”
• Event Date: Sunday, 14 August 1938.
• Notable Mention: The name “Mrs. E. R. Baker” appears in the section listing European and local elite attendees.
• Public Works Context: The same issue may contain Official Notices or Tender announcements related to the Public Works Department, which Ernest Reginald Baker likely oversaw or contributed to as a senior engineer.