Chow (in black) taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony at the church. He is flanked by St Paul’s Church Rt Rev Dr Steven Abbarow (on Chow’s right) and Rt Rev Dr Stephen Soe. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
TO CREATE a safe space for the young and old alike, St Paul’s Church in Penang will be expanding its built-up premises.
Revered as one of the oldest churches in the state, the 139-year-old Anglican Chinese church on Macalister Road, George Town, will have a new building to be named Wisma Huai En.
Set to be located next to the church’s annex, it will house various church initiatives.
St Paul’s Church committee member Daniel Soon shared some insights into the project: “We had a five-storey annex built in 2001 and will now have another five-storey building next to it.
“The whole project, including the buying over of the property and construction work, will cost RM3.25mil.
“The funding is primarily from church members and the diocese.”
Soon said the existing structure on the land would be demolished to make way for the new building, which would be connected to the main church annex.
“Each floor of the new building will serve a different purpose.
“For youths, it will house a safe space that will include board game and self-study areas.
“There will also be a senior citizens’ activity centre, the church office, a Sunday school and a seminar room for pre-marriage courses, and marriage counselling,” he said after the groundbreaking ceremony for the extension.
(Left) Soon holding up artist impressions of Wisma Huai En which will be built next to the current church buildings (background). — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Soon shared that the church administration had not met problems in its application for the new building construction.
He explained that this was because the extension was considered as being located outside the core heritage zone.
He said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had also allowed the extension.
“We obtained all the MBPP approvals needed before we started planning it.
“Construction is set to begin after Chinese New Year and is expected to be completed within a year,” he added.
During the ceremony, guest-of-honour and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow highlighted the rich heritage of St Paul’s Church, established in 1886, as well as that of its current church building, consecrated in 1951.
“Over the years, St Paul’s Church has extended its mission outreach, and has set up daughter churches in Air Itam, Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam, and Teluk Kumbar,” he said.
Chow said the church had catered to its congregation as well as the community since its inception.
“I am delighted to hear that the church is dedicating new space for social initiatives.
“The primary focus will be on senior citizens who will have an activity centre, a safe study area for students and youths, and relational enrichment programmes,” he stated.
Chow said these efforts aligned closely with the Penang2030 vision of fostering community welfare and social cohesion.
“I hope the church continues its contributions to society, emphasising the importance of addressing the needs of the community,” he said.
