Penang Diocese Begins Second Phase of Conservation of Historic Pagar Tras Church

The Diocese of Penang is preparing to begin the second phase of conservation work on the historic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Pagar Tras, a 19th-century Catholic landmark that reflects the missionary history of northern Malaysia.

Located near Bukit Mertajam on mainland Penang, the church is today a roofless brick ruin. Known as the “Notre-Dame in the Jungle,” the site preserves the remains of a church where generations of Catholics worshipped and missionaries served local communities.

Cardinal Sebastian Francis of Penang announced the next phase on October 3 during a site visit following preparatory meetings with the Penang state government and the Diocese of Penang Catholic Heritage Conservation Committee.

The conservation project, launched in 2021 with the Penang state government’s Tourism and Creative Economy Committee, is titled “On 100 Year Trail – Pagar Tras.”

“The project aims to preserve the church’s remaining ruins and transform the historic site into a prominent tourist attraction, particularly for mainland Penang,” Cardinal Sebastian said.

The first phase included soil analysis and the preservation of the surviving church walls, which were reinforced with steel girders.

The second phase will further develop the site as a historical landmark, tourist attraction and pilgrimage center.

Cardinal Sebastian said the project was not only about preserving an old structure but also about remembering the missionaries and Catholic communities that helped establish the Church in Penang and northern Malaya.

The history of Pagar Tras dates to 1875 and is linked to the missionary work of French priests from the Missions Étrangères de Paris, commonly known as the MEP Fathers.

“They arrived as young men, leaving behind their lives in France to journey to British Malaya, live among the local people and share the Gospel,” Cardinal Sebastian said.

“Through their devoted ministry, they laid the foundations for the formal establishment of the Catholic Church in Penang.”

The heritage trail connects the original Pagar Tras church with the present Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Kulim, built in 1957 after the original church was relocated.

“Today, 151 years later, we honor their memory and celebrate the rich history and heritage they entrusted to our care,” the cardinal said.

The diocese plans to improve the Pagar Tras site with landscaping, parking facilities and information panels. A viewing room at the present church in Kulim will display artifacts preserved from the original church.

These include stained-glass windows, religious statues, wooden Stations of the Cross, sacred vessels, relics, three bronze bells, old registers and a wooden clergy chair assembled without nails.

The original church signboard, bearing the words “FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE,” is among the significant artifacts.

The project has also involved Universiti Sains Malaysia and Think City in documenting the oral history of Pagar Tras. The diocese has published History and Heritage of Pagar Tras to preserve the site's historical record and memories.

“Let us honor the legacy of those who came before us by preserving the stories they shared, safeguarding the structures they built, and passing on this treasured heritage to future generations,” Cardinal Sebastian said.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, who attended the site visit, said the church demonstrated the importance of preserving the state’s heritage.

The Penang government has pledged RM1 million toward the restoration, although the total cost is expected to be considerably higher.