St Anne's Church, Bukit Mertajam

Thursday, May 17 2012

Wednesday, 23 December 2009 12:46

THE history of the St Anne's Church can be traced back to 1833 when the Catholics from Batu Kawan first settled on the foothills of Bukit Mertajam. The first chapel was built in 1846 by visiting French missionaries on top of the hill. The site is currently the 15th and final station of the Cross which devotees make in their pilgrimage. As the congregation grew, the second chapel was built in 1865, the site, at present, is just behind the wall of taps of Saint Anne's water.

St Anne was chosen as she was and is a popular patron saint of the French. She is believed to be the mother of Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ. She is also the Patron Saint of housewives, grandmothers, cabinet makers, and women in labour. Read here for more on St Anne.

The first church of St Anne here was then built in 1888, overseen by Father F.P Sorin. Now called the “Shrine of St Anne”, after the “new church” was built in 1957, this site holds a beautiful stained glass set featuring St Anne, placed above the altar that dates back to 1896. Read here for more on the history of the church.

The “Shrine of St Anne” is also the focal point of the Feast and Novena of St Anne, celebrated annually. Drawing nearly a hundred thousand people every year from all around the world, this nine day affair culminates with a beautiful candlelight procession. Read here for more on why the Feast of St Anne is celebrated.

An interesting point to note is that within the church compound also lies the Cheruk Tokun Relic, a 5th century old megalith in Penang. This relic can be traced back to ancient Indian Kingdom of Kadaaram, presently known as Kedah, a northern state in Malaysia.

“Some Pallava scripts or Sanskrit inscriptions can be found written on the large, smooth block of granite bearing inscriptions. It was said to have been carved around the 5th - 6th centuries. The script is Pre-Pallava and the language is Sanskrit. The inscription speaks about 'Thus vanquish, the enemies of King Ramaunnibha'.” (My Island Penang)