St George's Church, PenangSt George's Church, Penang (17 April 2011)


St George's Church (GPS: 5.42002, 100.33931) is the oldest Anglican church in Malaysia, and is the main place of worship for the British colonial administrators in Penang. Located along Farquhar Street, it is one of the loveliest British colonial heritage buildings within the core zone of George Town's Unesco World Heritage Site. It is on the route of a George Town walking tour I established for Penang Travel Tips.

I have initially credited the formation of the St George's Church to Reverend Robert Sparke Hutchings*, the same person who founded the Penang Free School, the oldest English school in Southeast Asia, and who gave his name to Hutchings School nearby. However, I have since uncovered more details on the background of the church.

According to historian Marcus Langdon, Reverend Hutchings was present when deliberations were going on regarding construction of a church; however, rather than being the main mover of the project, he was only one of those consulted. The desire to erect a church for the Protestant inhabitants of Penang had been present long before that and indeed plans were submitted in 1810, 1813 and 1814. It was not until the extension of the East India Company's Charter for a further 20 years from 1814 that plans were finally acted upon. Rev Hutchings arrived in August 1814 and held services in the Court House opposite in Prince St, a now defunct road which ran between Farquhar and Light streets.

Approval to build the church was received from London in 1815 based on plans provided by engineer Major Thomas Anburey but this was not implemented. Instead the church was built according to plans obtained by Governor William Petrie from Madras in 1816 with modifications by engineer Lieutenant Robert Smith.

Although Hutchings was present when these plans were being considered, his input appears to have been minimal. He had in fact suggested that the church be built on the site of James Scott's property, Ossian Hall, on Light Street, on the grounds of today's Dewan Sri Pinang. Hutchings actually went to Bengal before construction of the church commenced and did not return until well after the church was opened, Rev Henderson officiating in his place.

The St George's Church was named after the patron saint of England. The saint's name was often called out in battle, a practice that goes back to the 12th century. The church itself was built in 1816 using convict labour, when Colonel John Alexander Bannerman was the Governor of Penang. The cost of building it was 60,000 Spanish dollars. This was a princely sum, considering the British paid only 10,000 Spanish dollars per annum to Kedah for Penang, while they bought Singapore a few years later for also 60,000 Spanish dollars.

The church was designed by Captain Robert N. Smith of Madras Engineers. (Smith is also a gifted artist whose oil paintings of Penang landscape still grace the walls of the Penang State Museum nearby.) The church was designed in the Georgian Palladian style - that's a combination of the Georgian style, named after the reigns of King George I and IV, 1714-1830; and the Palladian style, named after the Grecian architecture of a Roman called Palladius. (Compare it to the St Andrew's Cathedral in Singapore). This calls for graceful Grecian columns along the front of the building. The original roof was flat. However, it was modified to its present gable shape in 1864, after the original flat roof was found to be unsuitable for the weather in Penang.

The first significant event to take place at the St George's Church was the marriage of Janet, daughter of Governor Bannerman, to William Edward Philips, in 1818. Philips was the man who took over the pepper estate belonging to Francis Light, on which stands Suffolk House, believed to also have been built by him. Incidentally, Philips was acting Governor of Penang in 1817, when the construction of the church building was started, and completed in 1818, during Bannerman's term.

Front façade of St George's ChurchFront façade of St George's Church (17 April 2011)


Front façade of St George's ChurchSide view of St George's Church (17 April 2011)


Side façade of St George's ChurchSide façade of St George's Church (17 April 2011)


View of the Francis Light Memorial in the compound of the St George's Anglican ChurchView of the Francis Light Memorial in the compound of the St George's Anglican Church (17 April 2011)


On the lawn of the St George's Church is the Francis Light Memorial.

Services are still held at the St George's Church twice every Sunday, at 8.30am and 10.30am.
Address: 1, Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Telephone: 604 261 2739 o Fax: 604 264 2292

Getting there

Take the City Hop On Free Shuttle Bus from Rapid Penang and alight at Station No. 6 (Muzium). The Penang Hop-On Hop-Off Tourist Bus also stops there. The St George's Church is located a short distance to the left of the Penang Museum.

Rear façade, St George's Anglican ChurchRear façade, St George's Anglican Church (14 May 2011)

2010-2011 Restoration of St George's Anglican Church

The St George's Anglican Church underwent a 9-month restoration in 2010-2011. The RM1.8 million resoration was carried out under the Ninth Malaysia Plan allocation by the National Heritage Department. The result of the restoration is a gorgeous whitewashed building that is believed to have returned the church and the Francis Light Monument to their original states.

The St George's Anglican Church was designated one of the 50 National Heritage Treasures of Malaysia in 2007.

Interior of St George's Church, after the 2011 restorationInterior of St George's Church, after the 2011 restoration (14 May 2011)


Altar of the St George's ChurchAltar of the St George's Church (14 May 2011)


Interior columns of the St George's ChurchInterior columns of the St George's Church (14 May 2011)


Baptismal font, St George's Anglican ChurchBaptismal font, St George's Anglican Church (14 May 2011)

St George's Church on Google Street View

The St George Anglican Church is on the Map of Farquhar Street, Penang

St George's Church Before Restoration

I have photographed the St George's Church over many years. Here are some of the shots taken before the church underwent restoration.

2008

View of St George's Church in 2008View of St George's Church in 2008 (8 January 2008)

2002

These were taken in 2002. At that time, we never even dreamed that one day George Town would be recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It just seem so far fetched.

St George's ChurchSt George's Church (20 July 2002)


Gable-shaped roof and Grecian columns on the front façade of St George's ChurchGable-shaped roof and Grecian columns on the front façade of St George's Church (29 July 2002)


Francis Light Memorial and the St George's ChurchFrancis Light Memorial and the St George's Church (29 July 2002)

Upper North Archdeaconry of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia

  1. Bagan Jermal Anglican Church, 4 Jalan Bagan Jermal, 10250 Penang, Bishop Stephen Soe, tel: 0132060916
  2. Bukit Mertajam Anglican Centre, 117B, Lorong Tembikai 1, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Rev Lionel Gan Beng Huat tel 0166815138
  3. Christ Church, 531 MK 16, Jalan Air Itam, 11500 Penang, Rev Soong Hoe Pin tel: 0165372007
  4. Church of the Good Shepherd, 57 Jalan Perusahaan Jelutong 3, 11600 Jelutong, Rev. Anthony Jude tel: 0135338517
  5. Church of the Redeemer, 306 Jalan Bagan Lebai Tahir, Bagan Ajam, 13050 Butterworth, Rev. Lionel Gan Beng Huat Tel: 1066815138
  6. Emmanuel Harvest Centre, 276/2 & 278/2 Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, Sungai Ara, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Bishop Andrew Phang (RTD) tel: 0164575979
  7. Gereja St Mark, 1-14B, 30000 Jalan Baru, NB Plaza, 13700 Perai, Rev. Anthony Jude tel: 0135338517
  8. St George's Church, 1 Farquhar Street, 10200 Penang, Bishop Stephen Soe, tel: 0132060916
  9. St Mark's Church, 3826, Jalan St Mark, 12000 Butterworth, tel: 332 8197 (Rev John Kennady)
  10. St Paul's Church, 56 Macalister Road, 10400 Penang, Rev. Philip Ong Jeng En, tel: 0162196190
  11. St Paul's Church, Jalan Besar, Bukit Tengah, 14000 Seberang Perai Tengah, Bishop Dato' Charles Samuel (RTD) Tel: 0169221618
  12. St Philip & St James' Church, 3A, Jalan Kapal Terbang, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah, Rev. Marshall Thompson tel: 0125531606
  13. St Thomas Church, Jalan Hospital, 09000 Kulim, Kedah, Rev. Stephen Vellu Tel: 012 2891650
  14. St Timothy Church Teluk Kumbar, 38-1(1st floor) Changkat Bukit Belah,, Jalan Teluk Kumbar Hieghts,, 11920 Bagan Lepas Penang, Rev. Philip Ong
  15. Christ Our Peace Church, 349-3-7& 349-3-8 Straits Garden Commercial, Jalan Jelutong 11600 Penang Rev. Daniel Leong Kin Keong Tel 1064567089

Acknowledgement

I thank Marcus Langdon for furnishing additional details surrounding the building of the St George's Church.

List of Churches in Penang and Churches in Malaysia

Private Guided Tours of Penang

If you are seeking private guided tours of Penang, message Penang Tour Guides at penangtourguides@gmail.com and enquire with them.

 Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang

Do you have a property for sale or to rent out? Are you looking to buy or rent a property? Get in touch with me. WhatsApp me (Timothy Tye) at 012 429 9844, and I will assign one of my property agents to serve you. I will choose the agent for you, according to your property needs. So when you message me, provide me some details of what you need, whether to sell, to buy, to rent or to rent out, and what type of property, is it condo, apartment, house, shop, office or land.

Adakah anda mempunyai hartanah untuk dijual atau disewakan? Adakah anda ingin membeli atau menyewa hartanah? Hubungi saya. WhatsApp saya (Timothy Tye) di 012 429 9844, dan saya akan menugaskan salah seorang ejen hartanah saya untuk berkhidmat kepada anda. Saya akan pilih ejen untuk anda, mengikut keperluan hartanah anda. Oleh itu, apabila anda menghantar mesej kepada saya, berikan saya beberapa butiran tentang apa yang anda perlukan, sama ada untuk menjual, untuk membeli, untuk disewakan atau untuk disewakan, dan jenis hartanah apakah itu kondo, pangsapuri, rumah, kedai, pejabat atau tanah.

您有待出售或出租的房产吗? 您想购买或租赁房产吗? 与我联系。 WhatsApp 我 (Timothy Tye) 012 429 9844,我将指派一名房地产经纪人为您服务。 我会根据您的房产需求,为您选择代理。 因此,当您给我发消息时,请向我提供一些您需要的详细信息,无论是出售、购买、出租还是出租,以及房产类型,是公寓、公寓、房屋、商店、办公室还是土地。

 New Properties in Penang

Looking to buy property in Penang? Get the e-brochures right here without having to visit or contact individual developers.

  1. Anggun Residences E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  2. Aston Acacia E-Brochure, Bukit Mertajam
  3. Beacon Executive Suites E-Brochure, George Town
  4. Beverly Heights @ Bukit Gambir E-Brochure, Gelugor
  5. BM Highland E-Brochure, Bukit Mertajam
  6. Cypress Villa E-Brochure, Sungai Ara
  7. D'Zone Condominium E-Brochure, Teluk Kumbar
  8. Elements Garden E-Brochure, Butterworth
  9. Ferringhi Residence 2 E-Brochure, Batu Ferringhi
  10. GEM Residences E-Brochure, Prai
  11. Golden Triangle 2 E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  12. Grace Residence E-Brochure, Jelutong
  13. Granito @ Permai E-Brochure, Tanjong Bungah
  14. Green City Residence E-Brochure, Jelutong
  15. Havana Beach Residences E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  16. Imperial Residences E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  17. Imperial Grande E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  18. Lucerne Residence E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  19. Mezzo @ The Light City E-Brochure, Gelugor
  20. Middleton E-Brochure, Gelugor
  21. Orchard Villa 3 E-Brochure, Simpang Ampat
  22. Primero Heights E-Brochure, Permatang Pauh
  23. Queens Waterfront Q2 E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  24. Royale Heights @ Tambun Royale City E-Brochure, Simpang Ampat
  25. Royale Infinity @ Tambun Royale City E-Brochure, Simpang Ampat
  26. Rubica @ Harbour Place E-Brochure, Butterworth
  27. Sensasi Commercial Suites E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  28. Setia Sky Ville E-Brochure, Jelutong
  29. Setia Sky Vista E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  30. Setia V Residence E-Brochure, Gurney Drive
  31. Sinaran Residence E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  32. Sky @ TriPark E-Brochure, Bukit Mertajam
  33. Skyridge Garden E-Brochure, Tanjong Tokong
  34. Starhill Luxury Residences E-Brochure, Gelugor
  35. Straits Residences E-Brochure, Tanjong Tokong
  36. Taman Nuri Emas E-Brochure, Nibong Tebal
  37. The Light Collection IV E-Brochure, Gelugor
  38. The Loft @ Southbay E-Brochure, Batu Maung
  39. The Terraces Condominium E-Brochure, Bukit Jambul
  40. Trehaus Condo Villas E-Brochure, Bukit Jambul
  41. Triuni Residences E-Brochure, Batu Uban
  42. Urban Suites E-Brochure, Tanjong Tokong
  43. Valencia Residence E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  44. Vertu Resort E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  45. Vivo Executive Apartment E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  46. Viluxe E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  47. Waterside Residence E-Brochure, Gelugor

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

 Share your travels and/or ask a travel-related question

Join the Penang Travel Tips Facebook Group to share photos, tips and anything related to your travels, or ask travel-related questions.

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Discover with Timothy

Let me take you to explore and discover Penang through my series of walking tours on YouTube. You may use these videos as your virtual tour guide. At the beginning of each video, I provide the starting point coordinates which you may key into your GPS, Google Maps or Waze, to be navigated to where I start the walk, and use the video as your virtual tour guide.

Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Songs about Penang

About this website



Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.
Copyright © 2003-2024 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.