St. Anne's Church

St. Anne's Church is a Roman Catholic minor basilica located in Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang, Malaysia. Established in 1846 by French missionaries, it is one of the oldest and most prominent Catholic churches in Malaysia. The present church, completed in 2002, features modern architecture with stained glass and a large dome. Elevated to Minor Basilica in 2019, it serves as a major pilgrimage centre, especially during the annual St. Anne's Feast in July.

Visitors can expect a large modern church complex with a domed main basilica, stained-glass windows, and spacious prayer halls set on landscaped grounds. The site includes the historic Old St. Anne's Sanctuary on a small hill, a shrine with a statue of St. Anne, Stations of the Cross, and the St. Anne's Heritage Centre. The environment is peaceful and well-maintained, with open plazas for gatherings, especially during pilgrimage season.

Founded in 1846 by French missionaries from the Paris Foreign Missions Society as the first chapel in Batu Kawan, later moved to Bukit Mertajam. The Old St. Anne's Sanctuary was built in 1888 and remains preserved on the hill. The current large basilica was constructed between 1998 and 2002 to accommodate growing pilgrim numbers. On 10 May 2019, the Vatican elevated the church to the status of Minor Basilica, the first in Malaysia.

One of the most important Roman Catholic pilgrimage sites in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. The annual St. Anne's Feast, held for 10 days around 26 July, attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims of various faiths and ethnicities. The church is dedicated to St. Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, and is revered as a centre for prayer, intercession and community gathering for the Catholic community in Penang and beyond.