Georgetown, Penang ; Catholics - Eurasians
Francis Light gave the Catholics a piece of land bounded today by Pitt Street, Bishop Street, China Street and Church Street. Immediately after Francis Light hoisted the Union Jack in Penang on 11th August 1786, he sent his ship 'Speedwell' to bring the remaining Malayan/Thai Portuguese in Kuala Kedah to Penang . They landed on the 15th of August, which is known, to Catholics as the Feast of the Assumption. The Catholic community, led by now Bishop Coude and his assistant Father Garnault settled in the vicinity and with 'Light's permission', Father Garnault built the first Church, named Church of the Assumption, on Church Street. This primitive Church was built of timber and roofed with attap. It was constructed on stilts because the site was a mangrove swamp that extended from the eastern shore of the town to present Carnavon Street. In 1787, on the death of Bishop Coude, Father Garnault became Superior of the Catholic Mission in Siam with the title of 'Bishop of Siam and Queda', and the Parish House for the Bishop and Priests was built on present Bishop Street.
French Catholic Mission Eurasians
The Malayan/Thai Portuguese Catholics were now being groomed under a 'foreign' French Catholic Mission, thereby making them the 'founding parishioners' of the revived Catholic Church and Faith under the French Catholic Mission as opposed to the organization of the previous Portuguese Catholic Mission in Malaya. By 1788 the Malayan/Thai Portuguese Community numbered about 200 and lived in the then popularly known 'Kampung Serani'. The word 'Serani' is the colloquial form of the Malay word 'Nasrani' which to them meant Christian and a direct reference to the Catholic Community then. 'Kampung Serani' in Georgetown was located in present Argus lane, Love Lane and Muntri Street. The Hokkien inhabitants in the early days of Penang referred to these streets as 'Sek-lan-ni hang' and the church as 'sek-lan-ni Le-pai-tng au hang-a' which could be literally translated as 'Christian Sunday Praying-place' (cf, Reutens,G.S., undated)
The Malayan/Thai Portuguese Catholics were now being groomed under a 'foreign' French Catholic Mission, thereby making them the 'founding parishioners' of the revived Catholic Church and Faith under the French Catholic Mission as opposed to the organization of the previous Portuguese Catholic Mission in Malaya. By 1788 the Malayan/Thai Portuguese Community numbered about 200 and lived in the then popularly known 'Kampung Serani'. The word 'Serani' is the colloquial form of the Malay word 'Nasrani' which to them meant Christian and a direct reference to the Catholic Community then. 'Kampung Serani' in Georgetown was located in present Argus lane, Love Lane and Muntri Street. The Hokkien inhabitants in the early days of Penang referred to these streets as 'Sek-lan-ni hang' and the church as 'sek-lan-ni Le-pai-tng au hang-a' which could be literally translated as 'Christian Sunday Praying-place' (cf, Reutens,G.S., undated)
British Administration Eurasians
The coming of British Administration into Penang made a significant impact on the identity of the community with a traditional Catholic Portuguese heritage and those arising out of intermarriages with the Catholic and other Christian descendents of Dutch and British colonialists. In the 1820s the British in India introduced the term 'Eurasians'. This term was used to describe people of European-Asian intermarriages and to classify the children of British compatriots who were referred to either as Anglo-Indians, Indo-Britons, descendants of Europeans, or even Christian natives.
The coming of British Administration into Penang made a significant impact on the identity of the community with a traditional Catholic Portuguese heritage and those arising out of intermarriages with the Catholic and other Christian descendents of Dutch and British colonialists. In the 1820s the British in India introduced the term 'Eurasians'. This term was used to describe people of European-Asian intermarriages and to classify the children of British compatriots who were referred to either as Anglo-Indians, Indo-Britons, descendants of Europeans, or even Christian natives.
Eurasian Contribution
Penang Eurasians who joined the British in their new efforts of colonial expansion not only became powerful but were well paid too. They invested their money in profitable businesses throughout Malaya and appeared as entrepreneurs in their dealings. These families were soon wealthy enough to send their children for higher education. As a result, there were many teachers, technicians, doctors, dentists, lawyers, and engineers. There were others who occupied positions in the colonial services. The men, for example, worked in the postal service and at the port authority or were office clerks. The women were teachers in the girl-schools, nurses in the local hospital, while some were secretaries, were recruited to be clerks in the Government and Municipal services, and business houses (c.f. Augustin, J.F., op.cit.).
Penang Eurasians who joined the British in their new efforts of colonial expansion not only became powerful but were well paid too. They invested their money in profitable businesses throughout Malaya and appeared as entrepreneurs in their dealings. These families were soon wealthy enough to send their children for higher education. As a result, there were many teachers, technicians, doctors, dentists, lawyers, and engineers. There were others who occupied positions in the colonial services. The men, for example, worked in the postal service and at the port authority or were office clerks. The women were teachers in the girl-schools, nurses in the local hospital, while some were secretaries, were recruited to be clerks in the Government and Municipal services, and business houses (c.f. Augustin, J.F., op.cit.).
Georgetown 'Kampung Serani' diminished to just about Argus Lane as many Penang Eurasians moved to the government quarters along Burmah Road, Chow Thye Road and Phuah Hin Leong Road.
Kampung Serani - Georgetown Eurasians ; The End
'Kampung Serani Georgetown' was no longer identifiable especially with the moving out of Eurasian retirees from the government quarters to the newly developed housing projects at Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bunga and Green Lane. The Church of the Assumption which was elevated to a Cathedral when the first Penang Bishop Francis Chan was appointed in 1955, prepared the way for the Malaysianisation of the Church. The church in Georgetown gradually lost numbers in terms of parishioners. Today it combines with two other Churches in Georgetown to form what is now known as the City Parish. A new parish was established with a new Church in the vicinity of Green Lane. Those who moved to Tanjung Tokong and Tanjung Bunga became the parishioners of the Church in Pulau Tikus.
'Kampung Serani Georgetown' was no longer identifiable especially with the moving out of Eurasian retirees from the government quarters to the newly developed housing projects at Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bunga and Green Lane. The Church of the Assumption which was elevated to a Cathedral when the first Penang Bishop Francis Chan was appointed in 1955, prepared the way for the Malaysianisation of the Church. The church in Georgetown gradually lost numbers in terms of parishioners. Today it combines with two other Churches in Georgetown to form what is now known as the City Parish. A new parish was established with a new Church in the vicinity of Green Lane. Those who moved to Tanjung Tokong and Tanjung Bunga became the parishioners of the Church in Pulau Tikus.
 |
| Penang Eurasian Food at Nazarani Bistro, 69 Lebuh Melayu ( Malay Street), George Town, Penang |
 |
| Tea Time at the Nazarani Bistro |
 |
| Philip Rodriguese ( Standing), Co-Owner of Nazarani Bistro ( previous Owner of PEA Heritage Bistro) giving a brief history of the Seranis or the Eurasians of Penang |
 |
| Popular Sugee Cakes served during Tea Time at Nazarani Bistro |
Excerpts from “The History of Penang Eurasians, by Dr. Anthony E. Sibert PJK”
References:
Augustin, J.F. Bygone Eurasia, Rajiv Printers, K.L. (undated)
Clood, H.P. Malay's First British Pioneer - The Life of Francis Light, Luzac & Company Ltd., 1948.
Church Records (undated)
DAUS, Ronald- Portuguese Eurasian Communities in Southeast Asia - Institute of South east Asian Studies - Free University of Berlin, 1989.
Lee, Felix George, The Catholic Church in Malaya, Eastern University Press Ltd. 1963.
Pasqual, J.C. A Trip Through Siam , Penang Gazette Press, (undated).
Penang State Government, Historical Personalities of Penang, 1987
Santa Maria, Bernard. My People My Country, The Malacca Portuguese Development Centre
Sibert, A.E. 'Pulo Ticus 1810 - 1994 , Mission Accomplished' unpublished manuscripts.
Souvenir of the Golden Jubilee of Bro. James, Christian Brothers' Schools 1887-1937
Publication, 1982.
The Eurasian Associations, The Eurasian Review, July 1934 and March 1937 .
Augustin, J.F. Bygone Eurasia, Rajiv Printers, K.L. (undated)
Clood, H.P. Malay's First British Pioneer - The Life of Francis Light, Luzac & Company Ltd., 1948.
Church Records (undated)
DAUS, Ronald- Portuguese Eurasian Communities in Southeast Asia - Institute of South east Asian Studies - Free University of Berlin, 1989.
Lee, Felix George, The Catholic Church in Malaya, Eastern University Press Ltd. 1963.
Pasqual, J.C. A Trip Through Siam , Penang Gazette Press, (undated).
Penang State Government, Historical Personalities of Penang, 1987
Santa Maria, Bernard. My People My Country, The Malacca Portuguese Development Centre
Sibert, A.E. 'Pulo Ticus 1810 - 1994 , Mission Accomplished' unpublished manuscripts.
Souvenir of the Golden Jubilee of Bro. James, Christian Brothers' Schools 1887-1937
Publication, 1982.
The Eurasian Associations, The Eurasian Review, July 1934 and March 1937 .
No comments:
Post a Comment