The church of St. Michael and All Angels in Sandakan has some stunning stained glass windows. They have been donated by Australia in remembrance of the help from the courageous people of Sabah Borneo towards the Australian and British soldiers during the war.
Artist Philip Handel (1931-2009) is the creator of the masterpieces in this Anglican church. It was only after Philip had created his work that he learnt that his older sister had been engaged to one of the soldiers who died at Sandakan during WWII. The courage and determination to finish the work gives credit to Philip who was dying of terminal cancer whilst making the windows.
Completed in 2005, the window of Remembrance is spread over three panels. The blues represent the oceans which link the three nations. Above the angels, the floral emblems of Australia and the various states from which men enlisted includes sprays of Australian Wattle surrounded by Cooktown Orchid (Queensland), Waratah (New South Wales), Heath (Victoria), Flowering Gum (Tasmania), Sturt’s Desert Pea (South Australia) and Kangaroo Paw (Western Australia). The orange and yellow hues in the centre represent the Australian outback and the setting sun. Apostle Simon Peter in his prison cell is in the middle of the centre panel. The Good Samaritan at the bottom. This signifies the prisoners held nearby and the compassion between the Borneo locals and the POWs. Flowers of Australia, Sabah and Great Britain are all represented here. Borneo has the Cordylines, Palm fronds and orchids. Wales has the leeks, England has the Rose, Scotland and England the bluebells, and Ireland the Shamrock. Australia has the Eucalyptus, Waratah, gum leaves, heath and Crimson Bottlebrush.
In 2008 two separate side stain glassed windows were done, the South Friendship Window and the North Friendship Window.
The South windows show an angel speaking to St Paul and his crew in distress on the sea. Again, there are flowers at the base of each window, with symbolic hands of friendship. The text “Love One Another” in Malay and “A friend loves all times” in English reinforce the message of friendship and peace between our fellow men.
The North windows have as their subject “Philip and the Ethiopian." The background behind the two frames portrays entwined ropes. This symbolizes the ties that bind one another in friendship.
There are four services at the church every Sunday and also some during the week. They have one serving priest and five pastors. St. Michaels Secondary School next door was built and started at the same time that church was built. As I walked past the school towards the church, the children all came out to wave and call out "Hello". They love practicing their English skills whenever they can.
Rev William Henry Elton (1845-1914) initiated the construction of the church in 1888, and it was designed by New Zealander Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort (1825-1898) who designed the Church in Christchurch New Zealand. A memorial stone for Rev. Elton is on an inside wall of the church.
The Borneo church was based on the NZ design too. It too just under thirteen years to complete, being dedicated in 1906. Made of ironwood, brick and stone it resembles a medieval church.
From 1942 it was closed, and used as a military store by the invading Japanese army.
On 5 June 1945 the church was burnt. Three benches survived as they were removed in an effort to save them. Made of ironwood, it took five people to move each bench. The benches have been placed back into the middle of the church.
In 1950 the building was restored and once again used as a church. There are now more than 1500 parishioners. The church holds 250 people at time, and online services have continued to be popular after covid too.
The windows are a beautiful link between Australia, Borneo and Great Britain. They symbolise unity and friendship in a place of worship. It was a pleasure to be able to admire both the building and the works of art inside.
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