Jake Harper
The Chicken Church, or 'Gereja Ayam' in Indonesian, is a temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. It was built by Daniel Alamsjah, who claimed to have been inspired by God through a dream in 1989. Alamsjah intended for the temple to be shaped like a dove, but the crown he added to its head made it look like a chicken or rooster to onlookers. The temple is now a museum and a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors coming to pray or reflect.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Gereja Ayam |
| Location | Bukit Rhema, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia |
| Builder | Daniel Alamsjah |
| Construction | Started in 1992, halted in 2000 due to financial difficulties and local resistance |
| Purpose | House of prayer for all religions |
| Features | Underground prayer rooms, cafe in the shape of a chicken's rear, viewpoint inside the crown on top of the chicken's head |
| Visitors | Tourists, couples seeking wedding photographs or a wedding venue |
| Folklore | Rumored to be haunted by kuntilanak, vampiric female ghosts from Indonesian folklore |
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What You'll Learn
The Chicken Church in Java, Indonesia
The Chicken Church, or 'Gereja Ayam' in Indonesian, is a unique structure located in the Magelang area of Central Java, Indonesia. The building was constructed in the 1990s by Daniel Alamsjah, a Christian who claimed to have been inspired by God to build a prayer house following a dream he had in 1989. Alamsjah intended for the church to be a place of worship for people of all religions.
The Chicken Church gets its nickname from its distinctive shape, which resembles a hen or a rooster to many people, although Alamsjah originally intended it to look like a dove. The building's design includes a crown on top of the structure, which Alamsjah added to symbolise holiness. Despite the builder's intentions, the crown further reinforced the chicken-like appearance of the church in the eyes of observers.
The Chicken Church is located on Bukit Rhema, a hill surrounded by nine different Javanese mountains. This setting holds religious significance for Alamsjah, as he interpreted it as a reference to a biblical verse, Isaiah 2:2, which states: "In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it."
The construction of the Chicken Church faced financial difficulties and local resistance, and it was left unfinished and abandoned in 2000. However, in recent years, the site has gained popularity as a tourist attraction, with visitors coming to explore the unusual structure and take in the surrounding views of Central Java. The church has also become a sought-after location for wedding photographs and ceremonies.
The Chicken Church features a cafe, a souvenir shop, and underground prayer rooms. Visitors can climb the stairs to the top of the structure, where they can enjoy panoramic views of the area, including the nearby world's largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur. The Chicken Church has also been featured in several films, further contributing to its fame.
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The building's history and intended purpose
The Chicken Church, or 'Gereja Ayam' in Indonesian, is a house of worship located in the Magelang area in Central Java, Indonesia. The building was constructed in the 1990s by Daniel Alamsjah, a Christian who intended it to be a prayer house for people of all religions. Alamsjah claimed that he was inspired by God through a dream in 1989 to build the church. He envisioned a dove-shaped structure, but the addition of a crown on top of the head transformed it into a chicken or rooster in the eyes of onlookers.
The building process began in 1992 and was fraught with controversies and challenges. It was supposed to be a dove-shaped structure, but the crown that Alamsjah added to symbolise holiness gave it the appearance of a chicken or rooster. There were also complaints from the local Muslim community about a church being built in their neighbourhood. Despite these objections, Alamsjah persisted, stating that it was "God's Temple for all nations".
Financial difficulties and local resistance eventually halted construction in 2000, leaving the building unfinished and abandoned. In recent years, however, there has been a renewed interest in the site, with tourists and couples seeking to take wedding photographs or hold wedding ceremonies in the unique setting. Renovation efforts have also been made, including the addition of jewelled tiles, panelled windows, and a small access road. The underground prayer rooms, which are intended for followers of different religions, are also close to completion.
The Chicken Church is perched on a hill in a forest, near the Hindu temple complex of Prambanan and the Buddhist temple of Borobudur. The main hall, located in the body of the chicken, features displays documenting the project's history and development. The second floor showcases paintings depicting Indonesian mythology and history, while the third floor houses a waiting area and access to the viewpoint inside the crown on the chicken's head. The chicken's rear even contains a small cafe serving traditional Indonesian snacks and coffee.
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The building's design and construction
The Chicken Church, or 'Gereja Ayam' in Indonesian, is a giant, chicken-shaped church perched on a hill in a forest on the Indonesian island of Java. The building was erected during the 1990s by Daniel Alamsjah, who claimed to have been inspired by God to build a prayer house through a dream he had in 1989. Alamsjah is a Christian, but he envisioned the church as a place to welcome followers of any religion for prayer or meditation.
The building's construction began in 1992 and was halted in 2000 due to financial difficulties and local resistance. The structure has been left largely abandoned and has deteriorated over the years. However, in recent times, efforts have been made to restore and preserve the building, and it has become a popular tourist attraction.
The church's design is intended to resemble a dove, with a crown on top of its head to symbolise holiness. However, most people see the structure as resembling a chicken or a rooster. The building features underground prayer rooms, a cafe in the shape of a chicken's rear, and a viewpoint inside the crown. The interior includes brightly painted murals, tilework, and seats arranged in rows. The second floor displays pictures of wedding ceremonial clothes from various regions of Indonesia, while the mezzanine level showcases murals depicting bad behaviours.
The Chicken Church is located near the Hindu temple complex of Prambanan and the Buddhist temple of Borobudur. It has become a popular spot for couples to take wedding photographs or even hold their wedding ceremonies. Despite its unusual appearance and controversial history, the Chicken Church has become a well-known landmark in the area, attracting visitors from all over the world.
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The building's current use and visitors
The Chicken Church, or 'Gereja Ayam' in Indonesian, is perched on a hill in a forest on the Indonesian island of Java. It is a unique structure that resembles a hen to most onlookers, although its builder, Daniel Alamsjah, intended it to look like a dove. Alamsjah, a Christian, was inspired by a dream in 1989 to build a prayer house for people of all religions.
Despite Alamsjah's vision, the building was never finished due to financial difficulties and local resistance. Construction was halted in 2000, and the building was left to deteriorate. However, in recent years, the Chicken Church has seen a revival of sorts, with tourists, couples seeking wedding photos, and those wishing to pray or meditate, all visiting the site.
Renovations have been made to the building in recent years, including jeweled tiles, paneled windows, and a small access road. The underground prayer rooms, which are open to all faiths, are also nearly finished. The main hall, located in the body of the chicken, features displays documenting the history of the site. The mezzanine level features brightly painted murals, and a spiral staircase leads to a lookout point inside the chicken's skull.
The chicken's rear features a cafe that serves traditional Indonesian snacks and coffee. The second floor showcases wedding ceremonial clothes from various regions of Indonesia, and the third floor has a waiting area and access to the viewpoint inside the crown on the chicken's head. Only five people are allowed at a time, for a maximum of three minutes.
The Chicken Church has become a popular destination for tourists and those seeking a unique setting for weddings or meditation. Its revival has brought new life to the site, transforming it from an abandoned structure to a vibrant cultural attraction.
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Other temples with chickens
The Chicken Church (Gereja Ayam) in Java, Indonesia, is a contemporary temple built by a Christian man named Daniel Alamsjah. Alamsjah claimed he was prompted to build the temple by a Bible verse he heard in a dream: "In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it". Alamsjah designed the temple himself, intending it to be dove-shaped, but the addition of a crown transformed it into a chicken in the eyes of onlookers. The temple has prayer rooms for different religions in its underground chambers and a cafe in the rear, which serves free snacks.
In Thailand, rooster and chicken statues began to appear in the temples of Ayutthaya, and they are now mostly concentrated in temples associated with the royal warrior (Wat Worachet, Wat Worachetharam, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, and the king's memorial statue). Devotees born in the Zodiac year of the rooster bring ornately decorated roosters as offerings and seek blessings and good fortune.
The Bayon Temple in Cambodia is an ancient Buddhist temple that includes a depiction of a cockfight within its walls. The practice of cockfighting is also associated with the Hmong people of Southeast Guizhou, who cover a rooster with a piece of red cloth and hold it up to worship and sacrifice.
In Yunnan, China, the Baiji Temple, also known as the One Hundred Chicken Temple, has a history of several hundred years. The temple earned its name because a chicken is brought and released on a hill on the first and fifteenth day of every lunar month.
In India, there are several temples that serve non-vegetarian prasad, including chicken biryani.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no specific name for the chicken in the temple. The temple itself is often referred to as the Chicken Church.
The Chicken Church, or Gereja Ayam, is located in the Magelang area in Central Java, Indonesia.
The Chicken Church was built by Daniel Alamsjah, who claimed he was instructed to do so by God in a dream.
