The first Catholic church in Batavia was blessed on November 6, 1829, and it collapsed on April 9, 1890. The Jesuit Antonius Dijkmans was appointed architect for the rebuild, and groundbreaking was in 1891. Construction stalled for lack of funds, then resumed in 1899 under Marius Hulswit, who simplified Dijkmans' design. Bishop Luypen raised the money in the Netherlands, and the cathedral was consecrated on April 21, 1901.
The article describes the style as neo-Gothic. The church is 200 feet (60 meters) long, with two 197-foot (60-meter) towers at the entrance and a third spire, the Angelus Dei Tower, above the crossing. It is built of red bricks covered with plaster, with a teak roof and iron spires, chosen partly because of earthquakes.
It is the seat of the Archbishop of Jakarta, and a museum occupies the triforium level.
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