MELAKA: After more than three centuries, Mass was celebrated for the first time at the site of the ruins of an 18th century Portuguese chapel here. 

Almost 400 faithful gathered to celebrate Mass at the ruins of Ermida de Rosario (Rosary Chapel in Portuguese) located along the Melaka River near Pengkalan Rama here on Monday night (July 15). 

The chapel was said to have been constructed in the late 1700s on the original site of the ruins of the Church of St Lawrence which was built in the 1600s.

The Church of St Lawrence was either destroyed or allowed to fall into ruins during the first decade of Dutch occupation of Melaka in 1641, and was subsequently taken over by St Peter’s Church.

The present day ruins is deemed a historical site by the state museum authorities.