[4] The church lies within the jurisdiction of the Upper North Archedeaconry of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia.

After the British East India Company took possession of the island of Penang in 1786, the spiritual care of the colonists was effected by Church of England chaplains attached to the EIC.

Early religious services were held at the chapel of Fort Cornwallis and later at the Court House located opposite the present church building.

Approval was obtained in 1815 to build the church based on the architectural plans drawn up by Major Thomas Anburey but the church was eventually built on the plans drawn up by the Governor of Prince of Wales Island (as Penang was known then), William Petrie, and modified by Lieutenant Robert N. Smith of the Madras Engineers.

Currently Bishop Dr Stephen Soe Chee Cheng is the Suffragan Bishop of the Area Diocese of Northern Peninsula with the Diocese of West Malaysia: Vicar of St. George’s Church Penang, the Oldest Anglican Church in South East Asia.