Cathedral of the Assumption

It was in 1786 that Father Garnault founded the Assumption Church at Church Street to cater to the Catholic community, most of whom were the Portuguese Eurasians who had relocated from Phuket. Their arrival in Penang coincided with the eve of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the church was named to commemorate this.

In 1861, the Church moved into a new building on Lebuh Farquhar, after being in temporary quarters for four years. This soon became the focal point of the Catholic community, with the new building being able to accommodate 1,200 parish members. In 1955, the Assumption Church became a Cathedral by decree of the Vatican.