St Anne’s Church for the Culture Lover

The island of Penang is located off the north western coast of the Peninsular of Malaysia and has many exciting and unique tourist destinations to offer tourists from around the globe. Whether it is to explore the culture, heritage and history of the land or just have a relaxed gateway under the sun with the in between shopping spree or fill every day with fun-filled adventure, Penang Island is one destination you should put on your to-go destinations while having holiday in Malaysia.

If you are a culture-loving tourist, one place to visit in Penang is St Anne’s Church. Founded in the 1800s, this church has survived a long history throughout the years and still stands today to play host to the many feast of St Anne. The first chapel was on a hill and as the congregation began to grow, a new building was required in the late 1800s. During the emergency, the church was not safe to be visited by devotees and it was only later on that the emergency was lifted and the church grounds were marked safe. Booming growth was experienced only in the early 1900s where the church building was too small for the ever-growing congregation. Work soon started on a new church building and when the new building was completed in 2002, featuring unique Minangkabau roofs, and it was a fine, stately building overlooking the St. Anne Square constructed right in front of the church premises.

If you enter the church, you will see the Statue of Passion which narrates the Stations of the Cross. It is also a very tranquil and peaceful place to be in. If you are looking for this, the best time to come would be on a weekday when the church is not so crowded. If you are a tourist, looking for an experience of the celebration of different religions, then the best time to come would be during the celebration of feasts. One such feast is celebrated on the 26th of July annually for ten days, right here at the church. Join in, and be a part of the amazing celebration as you walk through the candle light procession and witness devotes as they carry out the traditions and rituals of the celebration.

If you are looking for a good Catholic church to attend while in Penang, the St Anne’s Church is one of the many good places to be found in. The church accommodates masses from Tuesday to Friday at 7:00 am in English. There are four Sunday masses; the English masses start at 8:00 am and 11:00 am while the Mandarin mass starts at 10:00 am. There is a Tamil mass for the Tamil speaking community on the island later in the evening at 5:00pm.

Recommended Area to Stay in Penang:

Batu Ferringhi

Line up of beach front resorts from budget to luxury along Batu Ferringhi Beach.

Georgetown

For those looking for boutique style hotels and countless of cosy backpacker hostels.

Gurney Drive

A series of luxury hotels with fantastic sea view. Eateries and night entertainments are within walking distance.

Bayan Lepas / Airport

For business travelers.