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Blessed Odoric of Pordenone (1286 - 1331) was the first missionary to visit Borneo. It is generally believed that he visited Banjarmasin in what is now Kalimantan

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Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan's expedition arrives in Brunei in July 1951, marking the first recorded European contact with the Sultanate. This encounter introduces the first Christian presence to the region, though no permanent missionary work is established at this time.

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The Castilian War, also called the Spanish Expedition to Borneo, was a conflict between the Spanish Empire and several Muslim states in Southeast Asia, including the Sultanates of Brunei, Sulu, and Maguindanao. It is also considered as part of the Ottoman-Habsburg Wars. This war is the beginning of relations between the Ottoman state and the Sultanate of Brunei in 1560 to 1578.

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Spanish forces briefly occupy Brunei, bringing Catholic missionaries who attempt to establish Christianity among the local population. However, their influence remains limited due to the strong Islamic foundation of the Sultanate and resistance from local rulers.

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In 1587, Two Franciscans arrived in Brunei on way to Pope and Philip II of Spain. They were Francesco de Santa Maria and Miguel Juan de Plasencia.

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Antonio Pereira, a Jesuit priest reached Borneo accidentally. In 1608, on his way to Manila, a sudden storm wrecked his ship along the coast of North Borneo. He and his crew landed in Tempasuk, Kota Belud but were captured by the Illanuns who enslaved them. After four months the Sultan of Brunei heard about the incident and rescued them. They were also allowed to preach the Gospel to the people in Brunei. Nothing much is known about the missionary work of Fr Pereira except the fact that the Bruneians appreciated and admired him for his gentle approach. After one year, Fr Pereira was drowned when the ship he was in sank on its way to Manila.

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Fr Antonino Ventimiglia, a member of the Italian Theatine Religious Order, landed at Banjirmasin, Indonesia in Feb 1688. By 1689 he baptized some 1800 people of the Ngadju tribe. He died two years later. On 19 January 1692, Pope Innocentius XII established the Apostolic Vicar of Borneo with Fr Ventimiglia as the Apostolic Vicar.

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Brunei became part of the Apostolic Prefecture of Labuan and North Borneo.

The Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples decreed on 27 August 1855 the erection of the northern part of the island of Borneo into an independent prefecture of North Borneo and Labuan and entrusted it to Carlos Cuarteroni, a Spaniard. Cuarteroni was originally a sea-captain and had vowed, after escaping great peril, to devote himself to the evangelisation of Borneo. He landed at Labuan in 1857, in company with several missionaries who deserted him in 1860. Although alone in the island of Labuan, Cuarteroni continued his labours. At length, seeing that isolation made him powerless, he went to Rome in 1879 to request that the Propaganda place the mission in charge of an institute. From Rome, Cuarteroni went to Spain, where he soon died.

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Through the British Consul in Brunei, a site at Brambangan, about a mile from Brunei town, was acquired. Fr. Antonio Riva was put in charge. He was able to find a sizeable Christian community and had made some contacts with the Muruts of the interior. But he encounter some harassments of his little community. Fearing danger to their lives, Propaganda withdraw the two Milan missionaries (Fr Borgazzi and Fr Riva) from Brunei. Some how a church dedicated to Our Lady of Every Grace was supposedly built in that site (purchased by Sir Spencer Buckingham St John, the British Consul to Brunei) but no details were recorded.

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In 1869, St Joseph's Foreign Missionary College opened and the first Mill Hill Missionaries were stationed in Labuan in 1881.

On learning that Mill Hill had been entrusted with the Borneo Mission, Bishop Vaughan travelled to St Joseph’s College, Mill Hill and after evening prayer with the students, he stood up and asked, “Who wants to go to Borneo?”

Two close friends, Edmund Dunn and Aloysius Goossens, who were not yet ordained, immediately put up their hands and three years later, they were among the first four priests appointed to Borneo.

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By the1880s, Brunei’s situation was quite dire. More territories had been lost to both Rajah Brooke’s Sarawak and the British North Borneo company. Sultan Hashim in 1887 appealed in a letter to Queen Victoria not to allow the cession of more territory and Sir Frederick Weld, the Governor of the Straits Settlement was sent to investigate the situation in Brunei.

The Treaty of Protection was signed on 17 September 1888. The Agreement gave the British Government no right to interfere with the internal administration of Brunei. Similar agreements were also signed by the British Government with Sarawak and British North Borneo.

The Agreement prohibited Brunei from ceding or alienating territory to any foreign state, or the subjects or citizens thereof, without the consent of the British Government.

During the years after 1888, despite the treaty, Sultan Hashim felt that the British were not much interested in really protecting Brunei. Limbang was taken by Rajah Brooke in 1890.

Sultan Hashim tried to seek help from Sultan Abdul Hamid of Turkey. It was then the British sent Malcolm McArthur to look into Brunei’s situation. In 1906, the first British Resident was in Brunei after the Supplementary Agreement to the Treaty of Protection was signed in 1905/1906. Sultan Hashim died in May 1906.

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Early 1900s: Anglican Church Establishment

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Early 1900s: Anglican Church Establishment

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The Anglican Church establishes its first permanent presence in Brunei under British colonial influence. Services are initially conducted primarily for British colonial officers and their families, with limited outreach to the local population.

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The first official recorded baptism of a Bruneian, baptism was done in Labuan, Lucia Liew, by Fr. A. Williams, MHM.

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First recorded baptism in Brunei by Fr. A. Williams of Francis Newn on 5th March.

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On 7 February 1927, Rome divided the prefecture of Borneo into the Prefecture of Kuching and the Prefecture of North Borneo. The division was done more on political grounds than for pastoral concern. The Prefecture of North Borneo covered North Borneo, Labuan and Brunei. Msgr August Wachter was it's first Apostolic Prefect.

He enthusiastically welcomed the first seven Carmelites from Madrid, Spain in 1930. He also founded the local Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC) in 1936 with the help of the White Sisters.

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Fr. Aloysius Stotter built the first substantial church in Labuan at the Everett Estate in 1931 and was named Corpus Christi.

Fr. A. Stotter founded the Catholic mission in Kuala Belait. He was the first resident priest in Brunei.

Brunei continued to be regarded as a mission of Labuan until 1936. Kuala Belait was made a head station and Fr. Arthur Crowther, MHM, was appointed the first resident priest in Kuala Belait.

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Alice Liew was educated at the Convent in Labuan and became a Carmelite nun – first Bruneian to enter a religious order.

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In 1937 Fr Piet de Wit was appointed to assist Fr. Crowther in Kuala Belait. He started the first Catholic school in a rented house owned by Mr Kay in Jalan Padang.

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The Rectory in Kuala Belait built by Fr Crowther, MHM

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Mr George Newn Ah Foott donated a piece of land in Jalan Kumbang Pasang on which a school, a chapel and the priest living quarters were built.

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This photograph shows the 27th Sultan of Brunei, His Majesty Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin, and local Brunei government officials with the occupying Japanese military personnel during World War 2. 

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Japanese occupation during World War II severely disrupts Christian activities in Brunei. Many missionaries are interned or forced to leave, and church buildings suffer damage. Fr Piet de Wit together with other priests were interned by the Japanese and sent to Batu Lintang, Kuching.

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1954 - The Seria English School was officially named St Michael School

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Fr. A. Crowther and Fr. Piet de Wit return to Brunei in 1945 and 1947 respectively. Fr. de Wit was appointed the Rector for Kuala Belait/Seria Mission and he set up the Seria English school by arrangement with the British Malayan Petroleum (now Brunei Shell Petroleum) Company. Fr. Crowther was placed in charge of the Mission/School for the State of Brunei.

The school was born on 13th April, 1946 at mile 3, Seria. It was a very simple building with kajang walls and a roof of attap leaves. On the day it opened, it had sixty six pupils and three teachers.

In early 1953 it was found that the school building was no longer suitable. It was condemned as a school premises and the committee was faced with the problem of erecting another building. At that time the Shell Oil Company vacated its old Headquarters office on the beach near Lorong Four and moved to a new premises. The Company kindly offered the school the use of the old office. The school moved into the office where it continued until early 1955.

The school could not carry on indefinitely in borrowed kajang buildings and in 1954 it was planned to build a new school. The Government gave the Mission a piece of land at Lorong Two near the bazaar. This site was cleared and prepared by voluntary labour. It was found, however, that the area was too small for the school building and a bigger space had to be found somewhere. Eventually the Company offered the site on which the new school now stands and the work on the new building began towards the end of 1954. It was completed by the middle of 1955 and was opened on 17th July, 1955.

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Fr. Gerard Rottinghuis appointed Principal of Kuala Belait and Seria English Schools in 1950.

Fr. Leo Barry took over as Rector Kuala Belait and Seria Missions in 1952.

Brunei became part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching on February 14, 1952.

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George Newn Ah Footh was conferred the papal decoration "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" on January 19, 1952.

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Fr. Herman Plattner officially open the church in Kuala Belait.

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On 19th June 1955, Monsignor John Vos, Vicar Apostolic of Kuching laid the foundation stone for the Church of Our Lady, Seria. By November 1955, the Construction of Church of Our Lady, Seria was on its way.

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St. Michael’s School, Seria was officially opened in 17th July 1955 by British High Commissioner, Sir Anthony Abell.

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Newly completed Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Seria, was opened by Monsignor Vos on 28th July 1956.

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St. Angela Convent in Seria, set up by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, was opened on 18th December, 1957. The school for girls was opened by the British Resident, Mr D. C. White on January 15, 1959.

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The opening of the new church, St. George’s Church in BSB by Bishop John Vos on Easter Sunday, April 21st.

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Fr. John Maher and Mr. G. W. P. Clark (standing next to his wife)

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Fr John Maher who celebrated 25 years of teaching in UK, Sarawak and Brunei, and Mr. G.W.P. Clark, a lay person of the Catholic church, was conferred the Papal medal, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice on July 1959.

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1959: Constitution and Religious Freedom

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1959: Constitution and Religious Freedom

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Formed on 29 September 1959, the 1959 Constitution transformed Brunei’s administrative system dramatically, in terms of policies, systems, and administrative structure, which are now under the internal self-government. Brunei's constitution is established, officially recognizing Islam as the state religion while providing limited protections for other faiths. This creates a legal framework within which Christian churches must operate, defining their rights and limitations.

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The Vicar Apostolic of Miri-Brunei was formed on December 19, with Bishop Anthony Galvin as Vicar Apostolic.

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In 1st January 1960 the Brunei Government discontinued all subsidies to mission schools and all seven Christian schools in the State became private schools. The decision was made on the grounds that, as Brunei is a Muslim state, it would not be proper for the government to continue its support to Christian establishment.

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St John's Secondary School at Kuala Bealit was opened by Bishop Anthony Galvin. With him is Father Van der Laar.

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1967: Mother Eamonn third tour of Brunei

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1967: Mother Eamonn third tour of Brunei

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Rev. Mother Eamonn, Mother-General of the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph, met parents of girls at St. Angela's Convent school, Seria.

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Bishop Galvin officiated the opening ceremony of the new Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in August 15th 1969.

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First ordination in Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Seria, is Fr Peter Tann on January 4th, 1970 by Bishop Galvin. Father Tann, the eldest son of Mr. Charles Tann, store-man at the Brunei Press, was educated at St. Joseph's school in Kuching and spent four years studying medicine at the University of Hong Kong before deciding to become a priest. His seminary formation was in Singapore and Penang.

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The new St. John’s Church, Kuala Belait, under construction. Rt. Rev. Peter Chung took up the project but Fr Paul Tong saw the project to completion. The church has a seating capacity for up to 350 people.

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The new St. John’s Church was blessed and officially opened by Bishop Anthony Galvin on Palm Sunday 12th March 1972.

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Pope Paul VI established a new Church province in East Malaysia on 31 May 1976, and Miri Vicariate was raised to the level of a Diocese, with bishop Galvin as its first bishop.

Brunei became part of the Diocese of Miri-Brunei on May 31.

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The road to independence began in 1959 when the Constitution Agreement was signed with the UK, abolishing the residency and providing for internal self-rule, with Britain remaining in charge of defence and foreign affairs.

Subsequent treaties with the United Kingdom in 1971 and 1979 set the timeline for independence, with Brunei set to gain full autonomy over its affairs on January 1, 1984.

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Fr. Ivan Fang ordained by Bishop Cornelio de Wit at St. Joseph College, Mill Hill, London

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Cornelius Sim was assigned to administer St. John’s Parish on completion of his priestly training in the United States. He was ordained a Deacon at St. John’s by Bishop Anthony Lee on 31st May, 1989. On 26th November, 1989, Deacon Cornelius was ordained a priest Bishop Anthony Lee at the Church of Our Lady, Seria.

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By the end of February 1991, the remaining priests, Fr. Peter Chiang and Fr. John McClorey, departed from Brunei. Fr. Cornelius was left to minister to the three parishes of Seria, K.B. and BSB, until Fr. Ivan Fang returned to serve in Bandar in December 1992.

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Sr Celestine Ho, principal of St Angela’s Girls School at Seria and Sr Eamonn Chan, a teacher at the same school, return to Malaysia on Feb 18 and Feb 24 respectively.

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1997: Establishment of the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei Darussalam

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1997: Establishment of the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei Darussalam

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On 22nd of February 1998, by the grace of God, the Catholic Church in Brunei achieved its autonomous status and was declared an Apostolic Prefecture. Rev. Monsignor Cornelius Sim was installed as the first Prefect Apostolic.

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Fr Paul Shie was ordained in Church of Our Lady of Assumption, BSB on 16th August 1999.

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Ordination of Fr Robert in St John's Church, Kuala Belait on 19th August 2003

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2004: Establishment of Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei

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2004: Establishment of Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei

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John Paul II established the Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei and appointed as its first bishop, Cornelius Sim, a U.S.-educated cleric who's been apostolic prefect in the Southeast Asian sultanate.

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2005: Ordination of Bishop Cornelius Sim

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2005: Ordination of Bishop Cornelius Sim

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Bishop Cornelius Sim was ordained in 21st January 2005

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St. Michael School closes at the end of December 2006. St. Angela’s School became co-ed beginning January 2007.

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Fr Arin was ordained by bishop Cornelius Sim on 8th December, 2008.

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2013: Installation of Power Generator in COOL

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2013: Installation of Power Generator in COOL

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2016: Opening of the Door of Mercy in COOL

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2016: Opening of the Door of Mercy in COOL

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The development of the new Christian Cemetery grounds at Tunggulian is a joint project of 4 Christian churches in the Belait district.

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His Excellency Bishop Cornelius Sim open and blessed the new baptismal font on 27th January 2018.

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2022:Tunggulian Christian Cemetery Completed 

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2022:Tunggulian Christian Cemetery Completed 

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The project was completed in May 2022 at a cost of B$ 1.682 million.

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2020: Announcement of the first Cardinal for Brunei 

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2020: Announcement of the first Cardinal for Brunei 

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Bishop Cornelius Sim was elevated by Pope Francis to become the first Cardinal-designate from Brunei Darussalam and also the first Cardinal-designate from Borneo on 25th October 2020.

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It is with heavy heart that I announce the passing of His Eminence, Cornelius Cardinal Sim, Cardinal of the Apostolic Vicariate in Brunei Darussalam, on Saturday, May 29th 2021 at around 8:28am in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH), Taoyuan City, Taiwan.

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HM made a surprise visit to SPC on 18th March 2023.

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2024: Bishop Emeritus Anthony Lee surprise visit to COOL

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2024: Bishop Emeritus Anthony Lee surprise visit to COOL

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Bishop Emeritus Anthony Lee of diocese of Miri made a surprise visit to COOL on 17th August 2024.

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2024: His Excellency Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski visit to Brunei

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2024: His Excellency Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski visit to Brunei

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His Excellency Archbishop Zaluski made a stop at the tomb of our later Cardinal Cornelius Sim in Kuala Belait Christian Cemetery on December 12, 2024.

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2024: Apostolic Delegate to Brunei joined COOL 69th anniversary

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2024: Apostolic Delegate to Brunei joined COOL 69th anniversary

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2024: Apostolic Delegate to Brunei visit St Angela's School

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2024: Apostolic Delegate to Brunei visit St Angela's School

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2025: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception

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2025: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception

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Rev Dr Michel Remery M.Sc., is a priest of the Diocese of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He is the author of Navigating with God and gave a presentation of it in COOL on 8th April 2025.

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2025: Signing of the Book of Condolences

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2025: Signing of the Book of Condolences

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Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. A condolence book was prepared by COLA for the diplomatic Corp in Brunei to offer their prayers and condolences.