Methodist Boys School, or nowadays called SMK (L) Methodist, is a secondary school for boys. It was founded by Methodist missionary Reverend B.H. Balderstone from Prince Edward Island, Canada. Originally it was known as the Anglo-Chinese School, Penang (ACSP). In the beginning, classes were held at a shophouse at Carnarvon Street. A few months later, Rev. Balderstone was joined by Rev. D.D. Moore, also from Canada. Reverend Moore later founded the Methodist Girls' School.
Failing eyesight forced Rev. Balderstone to quit in 1892, and his place was taken over by Rev. G.F. Pykett, who proceeded to stamp his mark on the school for the next forty years. From a small school with just 173 students at Carnarvon Street, the enrolment increased year by year. In 1895, a site along Maxwell Road was purchased, and in 1897, the Anglo-Chinese School moved there. Through the efforts of Rev. Pykett, the school earned the esteem of the Chinese community, which gave it their full support, enabling further expansion.
The first Scout Troop in Penang was established by Rev. Pykett. The first meeting has held at the YMCA Penang in 1910, but it was only registered in 1916. Still, it was the oldest scout troop on the island.
The growth in enrolment necessitated the purchase of 10 shophouses along Penang Road. When this too was full, a building at 422 Chulia Street was rented.
Rev. Pykett finally retired in 1932 due to failing health. He left for England but passed away the same year. Rev. Peach took over the reins as headmaster of the Anglo-Chinese School Penang. At that time, the school had to be conducted at three different venues: primary school at Chulia Street, middle school at 193 Hutton Lane, and high school at Maxwell Road.
In 1929, Rev. Peach purchased the grounds of Suffolk House for $20,000. Mr Lim Cheng Teik donated funds for the purchase of the land for the school field in memory of his wife, and hence the playground was named Khoo Guat Lee Playground. The site was still without a school building, and $140,000 was needed to build it. The government was only willing to fund half the amount. The on set of the Great Depression put the building project on hold. A sum of $6000 raised by the school committee was used to renovate Suffolk House.
The present school building, at 250 Jalan Air Itam, was only completed in 1955, propelled by a grant of $50,000 from the Department of Education. The first block, with 12 classrooms, was declared open by Malcolm MacDonald, Commissioner General of Southeast Asia, in June 1955. It was then that the Anglo-Chinese School Penang became known as Methodist Boys School.
For a long time, Suffolk House functioned as part of the school. It was used as the school canteen until 1975, when it was declared unsafe and vacated. From then on, Suffolk House remained in a state of neglect until in was restored in 2006.
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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.
