“The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.” (Psalm 28:7, WEBBE) “Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10, WEBBE)
We thank the Lord for his grace and guiding hand throughout the 105-year history of Madras Lane Methodist Women, as recorded in 2023. We are grateful to our advisers, pastors, church workers and pastors' wives for their loving guidance and assistance, and to our office-bearers and fellow believers for their united service, support and encouragement, which have enabled our work to proceed smoothly. We also give thanks for all that earlier generations contributed. Building on this firm foundation, Methodist Women continues to experience God, grow in faith, share the gospel, lead people to the Lord, and care actively for women and families with spiritual and practical needs. May our service glorify God and bless others. Peace to all, and glory to God! Amen.
From 1916, women's groups were already serving Chinese churches in Singapore and Malaya, although their activities were confined to individual congregations. Our association was initiated by Miss 格里曼 in 1918 under the name Women's Relief Association. Its president was the wife of Rev. 邱清浩, who worked with women evangelists and several devoted sisters in Christ to provide relief.
In 1923, the association was renamed the Dorcas Society, with Ms 林伶俐 as president. She also managed 体仁会, the church's home for elderly people who were poor and without support. The Dorcas Society met annually, beginning with worship led by the pastor. Donated goods and handicrafts made by church members were then sold for charitable purposes, including relief for those who were poor or ill, funeral expenses, and furniture and household items for church workers. Leading office-bearers included 洪琳华, 洪瑞要 and the wife of Rev. 黄懋庭.
In 1946, Mrs 李溢恩, the bishop's wife, and Mrs 罗士越 encouraged the active organisation of women's societies within the Chinese Annual Conference in Singapore and Malaya. At the Conference held in Kuala Lumpur in March 1948, women delegates decided to unite the women of all local churches in a Women's Society of Christian Service (WSCS). Our church formally established its WSCS, with every female church member included in its membership. The initiative was championed by 李秀英, the wife of Rev. 方明德, and Dr 虞小棠 was elected president. The society required its officers to meet at least three times a year. During this period, it helped the church establish the Air Itam preaching point, the parsonage, Dorcas Hall for Christian education, and the Jelutong preaching point. Its ministry also included monthly evangelistic visits to the Sungai Ara home for the elderly and children's outreach meetings in Sungai Nibong and Perak Lane.
Parents' Day, 5 May 1948
Parents' Day, 9 May 1949
Devotional Committee meeting, 26 October 1949
Parents' Day, 14 May 1950
Office-bearers, 1950
Office-bearers, 1952
Office-bearers, 1954
Ms 王美玉 served as president from 1960 to 1970. The society developed steadily and membership grew rapidly. Meetings were held weekly, with Bible studies twice a month. A women's choir was formed under the guidance of Rev. 黄银溪. The home economics group took turns teaching cooking, while Sister 郭爱华 taught floral arrangement to beautify the sanctuary. Evangelism was a priority: weekend children's meetings were held at 真光 School in Juru New Village, and literacy classes were opened at the Butterworth preaching point. Members regularly distributed gospel tracts, visited hospital patients, shared their faith with non-Christian families and helped new believers dispose of their idols. The account also records the women's choir, home economics classes, weekend children's meetings at 真光 School and literacy classes at Butterworth.
Singing Malay hymns at the Annual Conference Women's Night, 8 August 1961
Dramatisation of the Book of Ruth, 8 August 1961
Choir, 23 November 1966
Office-bearers, 4 August 1968
The president cutting the Golden Jubilee cake, 5 October 1968
Singing at the Golden Jubilee thanksgiving service, 5 October 1968
Golden Jubilee group photograph, 5 October 1968
Ms 张玉珍 served as president from 1971 to 1975. Office-bearers were elected at the annual general meeting and could be re-elected. Alongside its existing activities, the society followed the general body's call for a one-to-one membership campaign and encouraged younger women to join. Members practised self-denial to support construction of the Methodist building, organised gatherings honouring parents and older people, cared for children during Sunday worship, and held birthday celebrations to strengthen fellowship. Officers also took turns providing transport for monthly visits to members. The society supported disaster relief and visited homes for the elderly and for blind children.
Office-bearers, 1972
Fellowship gathering
Bible reading
Prayer
Singing hymns
The president presenting corsages and gifts on Parents' Day
Outing photographs
Women's Society of Christian Service office-bearers, 1975
Madras Lane Church members with the pastor serving at the time
In 1976, the Methodist churches in Singapore and Malaysia became separate bodies. The final joint Malaysian–Singaporean women's meeting was held in Port Dickson on 26 August, when Mrs 何约翰 was elected the first Methodist Women president of the Chinese Annual Conference in West Malaysia. From 1976 to 1987, Ms 高紫凌, Ms 李彩嫔 and Ms 张惠芳 successively led our church's WSCS. Each loved the Lord and served faithfully to glorify God and bless others. The society emphasised devotional life and spiritual growth, while its presidents and officers took turns visiting members' families and distributing gospel tracts in hospitals and other areas, seeking to help each member reach one person for Christ.
Birthday celebration
Group photograph, 11 February 1981
Chinese New Year thanksgiving gathering, 1981
Office-bearers, 1985
From 1988 to 1996, Ms 陈希敏 and Ms 胡金珍 served successively as presidents. Alongside its established activities, the society organised talks on health, family life and other subjects, including a discussion with the Consumers Association. Members benefited greatly. The society also worked with the Adult Fellowship on fundraising sales, donating the proceeds to organisations such as the Salvation Army, homes for the elderly and the 玛丽亚 rehabilitation centre as part of its social concern ministry.
70th anniversary, 1988
70th anniversary, 1988
Methodist Women worship gathering, 8 February 1995
Methodist Women birthday celebration
Methodist Women Chinese New Year thanksgiving gathering, 1995
Office-bearers, 1995
At the sixth General Conference women's delegates' meeting in 1996, a resolution renamed the Women's Society of Christian Service as Methodist Women, effective from 1 January 1997. Ms 宋凤莲 and Ms 魏秋云 served as presidents during 1997–2008. Ms 魏秋云 and Ms 谢理容 held the office during 2009–2015, followed by Ms 魏秋云 and Ms 周小珍 during 2016–2024. The society carried out both longstanding and newly prescribed Annual Conference activities. Over these years it joined the Adult Fellowship on educational and sightseeing trips, and partnered with other church ministries, preparing refreshments after major fellowship gatherings and expressing its commitment to service.
80th anniversary, 1998
90th anniversary, 2008
When the church extended its Methodist Century Building, the society contributed RM25,000. It later contributed RM10,000 towards the purchase of the Tanjung Bungah preaching point. At its 90th anniversary celebration, it also allocated RM20,000 to the church's mission fund.
Chinese Annual Conference Methodist Women in Malaysia was established in 1976; this historical account describes it as having a 49-year history in 2024. Methodist Women at Penang Madras Lane Church was founded in 1918 and marked 106 years in 2024. Northern District Methodist Women, established in 1948 as the Women's Society of Christian Service, marked 76 years in 2024. Its first district president was Dr 虞小棠 of Penang Madras Lane Church (1948–1961), and its eighth was Ms 高紫凌, also from our church (1986–1987). Madras Lane Methodist Women has therefore been regarded as the Northern District's “elder sister”, helping lead its ministry and encouraging women in every congregation to serve the Lord humbly and willingly, love their neighbours as themselves, share the gospel actively, build up the church, live frugally and strengthen others. May women today and in generations to come follow this example and continue to be salt and light for the Lord.
Methodist Women is one part of the body of the church. We thank God for his grace and great love, through which we can share wholeheartedly in its ministry. May our heavenly Father grant grace upon grace and strength upon strength, uniting us to shine for the Lord and glorify his most holy name. Amen.
Matthew (5：16）
“Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, WEBBE) Amen!
Earlier generations of women served throughout the church as well as in Methodist Women
Office-bearers, 2015
Group photograph, 2015
100th anniversary, 2018
Retreat with Rev. 黄, 16 February 2019
Chinese New Year thanksgiving, 2019
Chinese New Year thanksgiving home gathering, 2019
12 May 2019 / Our church's Women's Sunday and Parents' Day celebration
Women's Sunday group photograph, 12 May 2019
Singing on Women's Sunday and Parents' Day, 12 May 2019
27–29 October 2019 / Our Methodist Women delegates at the 44th Annual Conference Methodist Women delegates' meeting
Singing at the Christmas evening celebration, 25 December 2019
Birthday celebration, 8 February 2020
Visitation ministry photographs
Methodist Women delegates' meeting
Ms 黄秋雁 of our church won the Psalm recitation competition at the 42nd Methodist Women annual delegates' meeting
Methodist Women, Penang Madras Lane Chinese (Hokkien) Methodist Church2024Annual Report
Theme: Rooted in Christ, Nurturing Godly Women
- Meeting time: First, second and third Saturdays of each month, 7.30 pm
- Membership: 40
- Average attendance: 20
- Activities: Alongside Annual Conference observances—Women's Sunday, the Day of Prayer, Self-Denial Week, World Federation Sunday and the produce sale, with funds raised through donations—the society holds other meetings and activities.
- Bible study
- Sharing from the devotional handbook
- Testimonies and intercessory prayer
- Sharing session
- Special gatherings: Chinese New Year thanksgiving, birthdays, Christmas thanksgiving, the Mid-Autumn Festival, Women's Sunday and Parents' Day.
- Devotional life: Members are encouraged to memorise Psalms, read the Bible and participate in Psalm-writing and Bible quiz activities organised by the District or Annual Conference.
- Social concern and visitation ministry
- Other activities: Northern District annual meetings, Chinese Annual Conference meetings and the Methodist Women annual delegates' meeting.
2023-2024Methodist Women Office-bearers for the Year
Advisers: Rev. 张振祥, Rev. 李仁民, Sister 宋风莲 and Sister 魏秋云
President: 周小珍
Vice-President: 陈翠榕
Secretary: 陈秋菊
Treasurer: 李惠芳
Devotional Life Officer: 郑丽蓉
Christian Education Officer: 罗燕梅
Mission and Evangelism Officer: 黄秋雁
Local Church Activities: 蔡素意 and 骆莲宝
Nominations Committee Chair: Rev. 张振祥
Past Presidents of the Women's Society of Christian Service:
1918–1922: Wife of Rev. 邱清浩
1923–1947: Ms 林伶俐
1948–1959: Dr 虞小棠
1960–1970: Ms 王美玉
1971–1975: Ms 张玉珍
1976–1979: Ms 高紫凌
1980–1983: Ms 李彩娥
1984–1987: Ms 张惠芳
1988–1991: Ms 陈希敏
1992–1996: Ms 胡金珍
1997–2000; 2005–2008: Ms 宋凤莲
2001–2004; 2009–2012; 2015–2016: Ms 魏秋云
2013–2014: Ms 谢理容
2017–2024: Ms 周小珍
2025–2026: Ms 陈秋菊
