St. George's Church, Penang
St. George's Church | |
---|---|
Venerable Soong Hoe Pin | |
Laity | |
Churchwarden(s) | Mr Ho Yik Tuck, Mr Jaya Paul Dhas |
Type | Cultural |
Criteria | ii, iii, iv |
Designated | 2008 (32nd session) |
Reference no. | 1223 |
Region | Asia-Pacific |
St. George's Church is a 19th-century Anglican church within George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. The oldest purpose-built Anglican church in Southeast Asia, it was elevated by to the status of pro-cathedral in 2023.[4] The church lies within the jurisdiction of the Upper North Archedeaconry of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia.
History
After the
Proposals for the building of a permanent church were submitted as early as 1810 but was only acted upon after the passing of the East India Company Act 1813 (Charter Act) whereby the EIC received a 20-year extension of its charter. Approval was obtained in 1815 to build the church based on the architectural plans drawn up by Major Thomas Anburey but the church was eventually built on the plans drawn up by the Governor of Prince of Wales Island (as Penang was known then), William Petrie, and modified by Lieutenant Robert N. Smith of the Madras Engineers. Smith was a colleague of Colonel James Lillyman Caldwell, the chief architect of St. George's Cathedral in Madras, and the architecture of St. George's Church is believed to be based on the cathedral itself.[5][6]
Amongst those consulted on the building of the church was the Rev.
The first significant event that took place in the church after its completion was the wedding of the Governor, William Edward Philips to Janet Bannerman, the daughter of his predecessor, Colonel John Alexander Bannerman on 30 June 1818.
The building was significantly damaged during the Japanese occupation of Malaya and a lot of her interior fittings were looted. Services were not to be held in the church until repairs concluded in 1948. Currently Bishop Dr Stephen Soe Chee Cheng is the Suffragan Bishop of the Area Diocese of Northern Peninsula with the Diocese of West Malaysia: Vicar of St. George’s Church Penang, the Oldest Anglican Church in South East Asia.[3]
Architecture
The Church features a portico of
A memorial pavilion was erected in 1886 in memory of Captain Francis Light during the Centenary Celebrations of the founding of modern Penang.
In 2007, the church was declared one of the 50 National Treasures of Malaysia by the Malaysian federal government. It underwent a major restoration in 2009.
See also
References
- ^ "Past Bishops | the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia".
- ^ "Anglican Communion: Diocese".
- ^ a b https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2npL0WUUgA approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes into the video
- ^ "Anglican church elevated". The Star. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ ISBN 9789675719073.
- ^ "The Madras-Penang connection". The Hindu - Metro Focus. The Hindu. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2015.