Explore a different destination Farquhar Street Mission House and Chapel
35 Lebuh Farquhar, George Town

      Earth About Me      Bookmark and Share  Follow me on Twitter 
Farquhar Street Mission House and Chapel, at 35 Lebuh Farquhar, is one of the earliest premises of the brethren assemblies in this region. Today, what remains is Mission House, a dilapidated house located on the opposite side of Farquhar Street from The Promenade annex of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel. The brethren assemlies initiated at Farquhar Street Mission House and Chapel survives today as Burmah Road Gospel Hall and its sister assemblies in Penang, as well as in other brethren assemblies in Malaysia and Singapore.

Mission House was built by William Macdonald, a missionary of the Brethren assembly, between 1876 and 1878. It stands on a piece of land that an earlier missionary, Johann Georg Bausum @ John George Bausum, had purchased for the extension of the school that was founded by his first wife, Maria Dyer Bausum. The building was used until 1938, when the church moved to its new premises at Jalan Burma, where it was called Burmah Road Hall, and today, Burmah Road Gospel Hall.

There used to be another building, Mission Chapel, that stood next to Mission House. It was demolished when Lebuh Farquhar was widened in 1939.

Author's Note

My great grandmother, grandmother and mother (1926-2009) worshipped at the Mission Chapel at 35 Farquhar Street, George Town, during the early part of the 20th century. At that time, my grandmother was staying in Air Itam. She would take my mother, who was still a small girl, to attend church at 35 Farquhar Street. They would take the tram to George Town. After my great grandmother and grandmother had passed on, my mother continued to worship at Burmah Road Hall. She was married there in 1947. My parents continued to worship there until the early 1970's when they moved to worship at Island Glades Gospel Centre, an offshoot of Burmah Road Gospel Hall. I started attending Sunday School and church there, until the early 1980's, when we moved to another spin-off branch, Sungai Nibong Gospel Hall.

I was unaware that original Mission House in Farquhar Street is still standing until I embark on a historical documentation of the heritage sites within George Town.

Getting there

The Mission House building is located along Lebuh Farquhar. Using the E&O Hotel front entrance as starting point, cross Lebuh Farquhar to The Garage. Turn right and go along the sidewalk at The Garage and you will arrive at the Mission House which is on the left side of the road. The address, No. 35, is still visible at the gate.

What to see and do there

The Mission House is pregnant with history, but has no touristic value. It is presently overgrown with shrubs. The grass is long and uncut. There is nothing here to interest the average tourist, unless the person has an interest in visiting a site where early Christian mission work in Penang was carried out in the 19th century.

Related Sites

  • Sungai Nibong Gospel Hall
  • Burmah Road Gospel Hall
  • Gospel Hall: Brethren Assemblies in Malaysia

    • Acknowledgement

    Penang Travel Tips would like to thank Mr KC Ung of Berita Bethel (http://www.berita-bethel-ung.com/) for assistance in verifying the accuracy of the information about this structure.

    Bibliography

    This building has a passing mention in the following book:




    Farquhar Street Mission House and Chapel is a dilapidated house along Lebuh Farquhar


    35 Farquhar Street, the Farquhar Street Mission House and Chapel, covered in undergrowth


    Click for list of Penang Heritage Sites




    Compare prices of Hotel Room Rates in Penang

    Use this search engine to find the lowest price of hotel rooms from different Hotel Booking websites. You'd be glad to do your homework!


    Let me help you with your Tour Planning

    Tell Penang Travel Tips about your tour plans, and we will help you with suggestions according to your requirements.

    Local Tours in Penang

    It is often more practical to book your tours online. You have the luxury of time to go through what are the tours you intend to take, rather than having to make a decision on your feet. Check out the local tours in Penang that you can book online. The tours are provided by Viator, a reputable international tour company.

    Arrange Airport Transfer

    If you are coming to Penang, you can arrange airport transfer from airport to city in advance. A van will be waiting for you to pick you at the airport. This service is very useful and cost effective if you are arriving as a group.



    Follow me on Twitter

    Sign up to Tim's Travel Tips, and let me take you to explore the places in Penang, Malaysia and Asia.

    Please link to me!

    If you enjoy exploring Penang and getting to know its places of interest, place a link from your website or blog to Penang Travel Tips. Let Penang Travel Tips be your window to everything Penang! It is as easy as copying the source code below and pasting it on your site:

    Return to Penang Travel Tips homepage

    What's up at my other websites: Asia Explorers, World Greatest Sites, Flowering Garden, and Earth Documentary

    Penang Travel Tips is written by the Happy Jobless Guy




    Tim's Travel Tips and globe logo are trademark and service mark of Timothy Tye. Copyright © 2008-2010 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.
    Penang Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye, universally known as Tim. The text is the copyright of Timothy Tye, and may not be copied for commercial use or re-published in another website without the author's permission. Information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. Photographs on this website are the copyright of the author and may not be reused without prior permission. For commercial licensing of photographs, read the licensing terms. Tim is a Christian. Click here to know more about his beliefs.