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After liberation in 1945, the church gradually resumed its normal activities. Its ministries looked towards renewal and showed signs of steady growth. Having survived the war and its anxieties, people became more earnest in matters of faith and longed more deeply for the truth of the gospel. Many came to faith in the Lord. In 1946, Mr 叶恩汉 was appointed assistant minister. Capable, discerning and spiritually mature, he introduced many improvements and made significant contributions to the church, earning widespread respect. To strengthen fellowship among members and communicate the church’s ministries, a church fellowship was established on 7 April. At his initiative, the Youth Fellowship followed on 10 October and became active in ministry. In August, the minister in charge, the Rev. 黄懋庭, left for a year of further study in the United States. Mr and Mrs 叶, together with the women evangelists, sustained the church’s work in his absence. Mr 叶 placed great emphasis on music and worship and revitalised the choir. A large Christmas praise service and thanksgiving gathering were held that year with considerable success. From this year onwards, church officers were elected by ballot. The Rev. 叶恩汉 In 1948, the Rev. 方明德 was transferred from Taiping to lead the church, while Mr 叶恩汉 was transferred to Medan. Coming from a family with a tradition of both scholarship and pastoral ministry, the Rev. 方 faithfully continued its calling to proclaim the gospel. Many were reached, and the church continued to progress. In February, discussions began on building a chapel for the Air Itam preaching point to serve its growing congregation. A building committee was formed in May of the following year. With the tireless fundraising efforts of the evangelist Ms 庄家珍, the building was completed and dedicated to the Lord on 25 February 1950. Glory be to God! The land for the present site was purchased and donated by the wider Methodist Church. The Rev. 方明德 The church’s affairs had largely been managed by its ministers and executive board. On 3 August 1948, a newly constituted General Board of Church Officers took its place, giving the church a more defined organisational structure. At the Local Conference that day, twelve officers were elected from the Hokkien-, English- and Cantonese-speaking congregations in a ratio of 2:1:1, as follows: Hokkien congregation: 倪汉卿, 杨永英, 骆文萃, 林庭光, 洪瑞要 and 虞小棠. English congregation: 傅新民, 虞天伟 and 吴金龙. Cantonese congregation: 陈翼经, 何乐芝 and 何晋云. In 1949, the General Board elected the following office-bearers: Chairperson: 陈翼经; Vice-Chairperson: 杨永英 Secretaries: 虞天伟 (Chinese); 傅新民 (English) Treasurers: 倪汉卿 (General); 杨永英 (Hokkien); 傅新民 (English); Mrs 陈翼经 (Cantonese) Members: 骆文萃, 吴金龙, 陈宏济, 赵承熙, 许建发, 邝伦, 洪瑞要, Mrs 吴殷恕, Mrs 庄秉生 and Mrs 何乐芝. The church’s finances had been administered by a general treasurer and the treasurers of the three language congregations. On 27 March 1950, the Local Conference resolved to abolish the general treasurer’s position and allow each congregation to manage its own finances. On 11 November that year, changing circumstances and administrative needs led the three congregations to adopt separate administrations and elect their own church officers. They remained within the same local church charge, supporting one another and exchanging information so that their distinct responsibilities would serve a common ministry. Although their administrations had separated, this congregation retained a financial commitment to the English and Cantonese congregations, offering each an annual subsidy of RM1,000. The English congregation, being more financially secure, did not accept it. The Cantonese congregation received the subsidy for a time.

The completion of the impressive new church established a firm foundation for the future. Under the careful and diligent leadership of the Rev. 黄懋庭, and through the devoted work of women evangelists 洪瑞要, 陈淑美 and 林清美, the church’s ministries advanced actively and its finances gradually became more secure. Ms 洪瑞要 Ms 陈淑美 Ms 林清美 In 1938, the Rev. 邱清浩 established English-language worship services for members educated in English. He also devoted himself wholeheartedly to developing the English-speaking Youth Fellowship. Years of patient work brought considerable growth and raised up many capable members who later became pillars of the English-language church. Alongside his devoted evangelistic ministry, he contributed to education and social work, serving on the boards of several schools and helping to found 协和 School. His vision was to share the gospel through education. Trinity Church, established in 1938 (English-language Methodist Church) When the Pacific War broke out in 1941, the southward advance of invading forces caused widespread fear. Many people moved to the outskirts to escape the fighting, and church activities became dormant. Activities resumed during the three years and eight months of occupation, but difficult external circumstances greatly restricted evangelistic work and little progress could be made.

In 1925, the building committee worked to find a site for a new church. Mr 邱清浩 resumed responsibility for the church in 1927, by which time it had become self-supporting. The church property and zinc-roofed premises on Penang Road were sold, and land with an old house on Madras Lane was purchased for RM18,500, giving the church a more secure future. In 1928, Mr 郑珍恩 graduated from Anglo-Chinese College in Fuzhou and came to lead the congregation, which had moved into the newly purchased house on Madras Lane. Sunday worship continued at Anglo-Chinese School, while other church activities moved to the new premises. Miss Clara Martin’s faithful service had brought much encouragement to the Chinese congregation, and the Chinese community regarded her as one of their own. Her death in 1929 was mourned throughout Penang. The Rev. Pykett also served with perseverance and great personal sacrifice, helping the church flourish year after year. He remained faithful until his death in 1932, when he entered his heavenly rest. After Mr 郑珍恩 left, the Rev. 林鸿万 returned and continued the church’s ministry from 1930 to 1932. Children’s worship was established in 1932, and the church’s other activities continued as usual. In 1933, the Rev. 黄懋庭 came from Seremban to succeed the Rev. 林鸿万. The need for a larger church building had become increasingly urgent. The Rev. 黄懋庭 In 1934, the building committee renewed its fundraising efforts. Dr 柏 and the Rev. 罗 also came to Penang to serve, strengthening hopes that the new church building, planned for sixteen years, would finally be realised. Through the congregation’s wholehearted cooperation and the building committee’s years of effort, the plans were fulfilled. On 4 July 1937, the sanctuary was formally dedicated to the Lord. Glory be to God! 1937-1955                                                                                      

The Rev. 黄宽柔 arrived in 1913. Through four years of effort, the church grew greatly in numbers and spiritual vitality, making its premises too small and the need for a larger meeting place urgent. In 1914, Sunday worship moved to Wesley Church on Burmah Road. The Rev. 黄 led the church until his transfer to Surabaya in 1917. The young Mr 邱清浩 returned to Penang from theological training in Singapore and succeeded him. He served voluntarily with unwavering dedication for four years, reorganising the Sunday School and the Epworth League. The Rev. 黄宽柔 The Rev. 邱清浩 The church consistently worked towards self-support and eventually achieved it. In 1918, Sunday School enrolment and church membership increased so greatly that meetings had to be held at Anglo-Chinese School on Prangin Road, now Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong. That year, Miss 格礼曼 also organised the Women’s Aid Society. In 1918, evangelist Ms 王查姑 retired after seventeen years of service to the Lord. By the end of 1919, the church had accumulated RM1,000 as the foundation of its building fund. In 1920, Mr 邱清浩 resigned and was succeeded by the Rev. 林鸿万, who served for six years. With more people coming to faith, a house between Prangin Road and Penang Road was rented that December for church activities. Ms 王查姑                        

In 1900, Dr West returned to the United States on leave. With few workers available, the Rev. G. F. Pykett assumed responsibility for both the school and the church. Rev. George Frederick Pykett (1864-1932) – picture from https://dcbasia.org/biography/pykett-george-f After Mr 刘成宗 died, Mr 林谨慎 continued his work. Mr Ong An Lai arrived from China in 1901. With strong support from the church’s evangelist, Mr 吴约南, and Mr 林谨慎, the church’s work continued to flourish. Mr Ong An Lai (王晏来) In 1903, the church extended its ministry to Air Itam and Relau, supported by Mr 严阿瞻, Mr 吴约南 and many volunteers. Ayer Itam church, established in 1903 In 1905, responsibility for the church was entrusted to Mr 邱昌美. Well informed and fluent in Malay, he was warmly welcomed by the congregation. The following year, however, he was transferred to Java to serve in newly established work there.

On 5 May 1895, Mr Lau Seng Chong and Dr Benjamin Franklin West came from Singapore to Penang. They rented an old shophouse by the railway station at 29 Gladstone Road and began serving the Lord among the Hokkien community. Despite many difficulties, the work progressed well. These two pioneers served faithfully together until February 1899, when Mr Lau was transferred to Malacca. (Mr Lau Seng Chong came from China to Penang and initially worked as a printer. Under Dr Shellabear’s guidance, he developed into an able preacher. When Dr West went to Penang in 1895, Mr Lau was ordained as a local church officer and accompanied him. In 1899, Mr Lau was sent to take charge of the difficult work in Malacca and was ordained as a local elder in 1900. His death in 1902 nearly brought that work to a crisis, as no one was qualified to replace him.) Information from https://www.methodist.org.sg/methodist-message/remembering-our-asiatic-pioneers/ In memory of Gladstone Road, photos taken from 劲在槟城/Exploring