BALIK PULAU: A century-old French-made bell with Chinese characters at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus here is in need of urgent repair to keep it functioning properly.

       Termites have chewed away parts of the 104-year-old bell tower while the wooden beams supporting the bell, which was cast in France at the famous foundry La Savoyarde, are also damaged.

       Church committee member Gooi Seong Kin said the presence of termites was discovered about a year ago and an architect was appointed to restore the damaged structure.

       “We have treated the wood and solved the termite problem, but the structure needs to be reinforced.

       “A contractor will soon inspect and provide us the necessary details for the repair work.

       “We are also planning to replace it with an automated system,” he said.

       Gooi said in 2017, the steel cross above the church steeple, which was installed in 1909, had also fallen to the ground after its base was infested by termites.

       The cross has since been replaced and the original cross is now on display inside the church.

       Penang Island city councillor Edward Tan said the state government had allocated RM50,000 under its RIBI (places of worship other than Islam) fund for the church to conduct necessary repairs.

       “This is a heritage building and the repairs may include restoration work costing over RM200,000.

       “To preserve its originality, we may recommend reinforcement of the damaged parts rather than to replace them,” he said.

       Established in 1854, the church was only an attap house when the first parish priest Rev Fr Ducotey opened it and celebrated the first Eucharist there.

       In 1940, during the Japanese occupation, the church was taken over by the Japanese and used as the Nippon Schools.