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Anglican Diocese of Singapore

The Anglican Diocese of Singapore was established in 1909 to serve the needs of a growing Anglican community.  It has been a pioneering force in the fields of education, medical work and community service. The Cathedral church of the Diocese, St. Andrew's Cathedral, was founded in 1870. Today, the Diocese consists of 26 local parishes and exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction over six deaneries in Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam).

Early Beginnings
The history of the Anglican establishment begins with the arrival of the settlers of the East India Company (EIC). Chaplains of the EIC ships and missionaries of other Protestant denominations ministered to the small Anglican community, holding their services at the London Missionary Society chapel. Despite efforts by missionaries such as Robert Morrison and William Milne, evangelical work remained limited.

The appointment of Reverend Robert Burns as Resident Chaplain in 1826 marked the official beginnings of the Anglican Church in Singapore. The first Anglican Church was built in 1837 at a site designated by Stamford Raffles. It was closed in 1852 after lightning struck the building twice and subsequently demolished. A new building was constructed at the same site in 1862 using Indian convict labour. Consecrated in 1870, St. Andrew's Cathedral at St. Andrew's Road remains a place of great historical significance.

In 1856, St. Andrew's Church Mission was set up to administer local needs. Under the direction of Reverend William Henry Gomes, superintendent of the Mission (1872-1902), the congregation expanded. He translated a prayer book and some hymns into romanised Hokkien and Malay, and also started a school for catechists and a boys' hostel. In 1873, the Mission Chapel (later renamed St. Peter's Church) was built at Stamford Road. In 1884, St. John's Church was established in Jurong. Both churches offered services for the Malay, Hokkien, Tamil and Foochow speaking communities.

The Establishment of the Anglican Community
In 1909, Singapore was declared a separate diocese, directly responsible for its own administrative matters. Under the leadership of Bishop Charles Ferguson-Davie (1909-1928), training programmes to establish a local clergy begun and in 1910, the Singapore Diocesan Association was formed. The publication of the Singapore Diocesan Magazine commenced in November 1910 and still remains in publication as the Diocesan Digest.

Vernacular churches were established as the composition of the congregation became increasingly multi-racial and multi-lingual. While the Hinghwas attended the Church of True Light, the Cantonese congregated at St. Matthew's Church. Foochow services were conducted at St. Peter's Church and Hokkien services at St. John's Church. Both the Foochow and Hokkien communities funded the building of Holy Trinity Church, one of the first Chinese parishes. The Indian congregation had their own Tamil priests and hymns, conducting services at Stamford Road, and later at Christ Church at Dorset Road.

The Tamil Diocesan Council (1923) and Chinese Diocesan Council (1931) were established to manage an ethnically divided congregation. In 1932, a Synod was formed, adopting a representative style of government, giving parishes a greater say in administration.

The Expansion of the Anglican Church
The Church's work was momentarily disrupted by the Japanese Occupation. In 1942, all Protestant churches were brought under the Federation of Christian Churches in Singapore. However, accused by the kempeitai (Japanese military police) of espionage and aiding the British, the Federation was closed and Reverend John L. Wilson, the Bishop of Singapore (1942-1949), imprisoned.

Nevertheless, the Church resumed work after the war, focusing on recovery and rebuilding communities. The post-war years saw the building of My Saviour's Church (1955), St. Peter's Church (1956), the Church of the Good Shepherd (1959) and the Church of the Ascension (1961) amongst others. There was a renewed focus on evangelistic activities, an increase in membership and the number of parishes. 

The advent of decolonisation accelerated the indigenisation of church leadership. In 1957, Reverend Roland Koh was made Assistant Bishop and in 1966, Reverend Joshua Chiu Ban was consecrated the first Asian bishop.

In 1996, the Province of Southeast Asia comprising the Dioceses of West Malaysia, Kuching, Sabah and Singapore was formed and Reverend Moses Tay (Bishop of Singapore, 1982-2000) appointed its first Archbishop. Today, the Diocese serves as provincial headquarters for several Asian deaneries under its jurisdiction, providing guidance through missionary work and extending vital social services.

Contributions
Education
Anglican ministry in education began with the establishment of St. Andrew's School for boys, later renamed St. Andrew's Mission School in 1862. The first girls' school, started by Maria Dyer in 1842, came under Diocesan administration in 1945, and was renamed St. Margaret's. The Anglican contribution towards education continued after the war with the establishment of Trinity Theological College (1948) and Anglican High School (1956) for education in Chinese. Today, St. Andrew's Junior College, five secondary schools, three primary schools and six kindergartens come under the fold of the Diocese.

Medical services
The Diocese's pioneering medical work commenced in 1913 when Dr. Charlotte Ferguson-Davie, wife of the first bishop of the Singapore Diocese, established St. Andrew's Medical Mission and founded a clinic at Bencoolen Street to provide medical care for women and children. A second clinic opened in 1914. In 1923, St. Andrew's Mission Hospital (SAMH) opened at Erskine Road. SAMH also established the first orthopaedic hospital in 1939, and the first community hospital, the St. Andrew's Community Hospital, in 1992. In 1998, SAMH founded St. Andrew's Autism Centre and St Andrew's Lifestreams, which provides counselling.

Welfare and Social Work
The Singapore Anglican Welfare Council was established in the 1950s, dedicated to providing comprehensive welfare services, vocational training, and addressing social concerns. Besides providing youth counselling, the Council set up Whampoa Christian Centre (1986), Elliot Care Centre (1992) and Balestier Care Centre (1996) to assist the psychiatrically disabled. In 1980, St. Andrew's Cathedral Home for the Aged was founded. In 1992 and 1996 respectively, the East Coast Centre and Kallang Care Centre were established to aid poverty-stricken families. In 2006, the Council was renamed the Singapore Anglican Community Services (SACS), operating two mental health rehabilitation centres and a crisis shelter. SACS also runs ten welfare centres, and ten childcare and family service centres.

Timeline
1826 : Founding of the Anglican Church in Singapore.
1837 : First Anglican Church built.
1842 : Founding of the first girls school in Singapore (subsequently renamed St. Margaret's School) by Maria Dyer.
1856 : St. Andrew's Church Mission formed.
1870 : Consecration of St. Andrew's Cathedral.
1881 : Singapore officially declared part of the Diocese of Singapore, Labuan and Sarawak.The Rt Revd George Frederick Hose
          appointed Bishop of Singapore, Labuan and Sarawak.
1909 : New Diocese of Singapore established. The Rt Revd Charles James Ferguson-Davie appointed as Bishop of Singapore.
1910 : Formation of the Singapore Diocesan Association.
1913 : The first Diocese medical clinic opens.
1923 : Tamil Diocesan Council established. St. Andrew's Mission Hospital for women and children established.
1928 : Rt Revd Basil Roberts appointed Bishop of the Singapore and Malaya Diocese.
1931 : Chinese Diocesan Council established.
1939 : The Diocese sets up Singapore's first orthopaedic hospital.
1940 : Building of the first Tamil Church, Christ Church, at Dorset Road commenced.
1942 : Rt Revd John Leonard Wilson appointed as Bishop of Singapore and Malaya.
1948 : Formation of the Malayan Christian Council. Trinity Theological College established.
1949 : Rt Revd Henry Wolfe Baines appointed Bishop of Singapore.
1952 : Formation of Synod. Church of the True Light built.
1955 : My Saviour's Church built. 
1956 : Establishment of Anglican High School.
1959 : Church of the Good Shepherd built.
1961 : Rt Revd Kenneth Sansbury appointed Bishop of Singapore.
1963 : Church of the Epiphany built.
1966 : Rt Revd Joshua Chiu Ban consecrated as Bishop. Church of Our Saviour built.
1976 : Building of St. Andrew's Junior College started.
1980 : Home for the aged opened at Clementi.
1982 : Rt Revd Dr Moses Tay Leng Kong appointed Bishop of Singapore.
1992 : St. Andrew's Community Hospital opened.
1996 : Formation of the Province of Southeast Asia comprising the Dioceses of West Malaysia, Kuching, Sabah and Singapore. 
2000 : Rt Revd Dr John Chew Hiang Chea appointed Bishop of Singapore. 
2005 : St. Andrew's Centre for Early Childhood Education established and the Simei Care Centre officially opens. 
2006 : Relocation of St. Andrew's Community Hospital to Simei and St. Andrew's Village officially opened. Launch of the Singapore 
          Anglican Community Services (SACS).
2009 : St. Andrew's Autism Centre at Elliot Road established and the Diocese of Singapore marks its 100th year in service.

List of Anglican Parishes in Singapore
St. Andrew's Cathedral
All Saints Church
Chapel of Christ the King
Chapel of Christ the Redeemer
Chapel of the Holy Spirit
Chapel of the Resurrection
Christ Church
Church of our Saviour
Church of the Ascension
Church of the Epiphany
Church of the Good Shepherd
Church of the True Light
Holy Trinity Church
Light of Christ Church Woodlands
Marine Parade Christian Centre
My Saviour's Church
St. Andrew's Community Chapel
St. George's Church
St Hilda's Church
St. Jame's Church
St. John's Chapel
St. John's - St. Margaret's Church
St. Matthew's Church
St. Paul's Church
St. Peter's Church
Yishun Christian Church 



Author
Sheena Kumari Singh



References
Anglican Angels. (2006, December 2). The Straits Times. Retrieved September 12, 2009, from Factiva database.

Conceicao, J. G. (1989). The Anglican Church in Singapore: The Development of a Local Church 1909-1989. Unpublished academic exercise, Department of History, National University of Singapore.
(Not available in NLB holdings)

Diocese of Singapore. (1999). Visions Unfold. Singapore: Kairos Design.
(Call No. : RSING English q283.5957 VIS)

Diocese of Singapore (Diocesan Womens Board). (1995). Not Alone: Along Lifes Pathways. Singapore: Armour Publications. 
(Call No.: RSING English 248.843 NOT)

Loh, K. A. (1963). Fifty Years of the Anglican Church in Singapore Island, 1909-1959. Singapore: Department of History, National University of Singapore.
(Call No.: RCLOS English 283.5957 LOH)

Singapore Anglican Community Services. (n.d.) Retrieved 14 September, 2009, from http://www.sacs.org.sg/Sng, 

B. E. K. (2003). In His Good Time: The Church in Singapore, 1819-2003. Singapore: Bible Society of Singapore, Graduates Christian Fellowship.
(Call No.: RSING English 280.4095957SNG)

S'pore Anglican Bishop to head South-east Asian Church Province. (1996, February 2). The Straits Times. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from Factiva database.

S'pore's first Community Hospital opens in Siglap. (1992, March 13). The Straits Times. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from Factiva database.

St. Andrew's Mission Hospital. (n.d.). Retrieved 14 September, 2009, from http://www.sach.org.sg 

Swindell, F.G. (Ed.). (1929). A short history of St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore. Singapore: Author. 
(Call No.: RRARE English 283.5951 SWI)

The Diocese of Singapore. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 July, 2009, from http://www.anglican.org.sg/index.htmlThe 

Singapore Diocesan Magazine. (1910-1936). Singapore: Diocese of Singapore.
(Not available in NLB holdings)

Wong, J. (1998). The Church in Singapore. Singapore: National Council of Churches of Singapore.
(Call No.: RSING English 275.957 WON)

Woods, R. (1958). St. Andrew's Cathedral Singapore: a short history for members and visitors. Singapore: Straits Times Press.
(Call No.: RCLOS English 283.95957 WOO [RFL])


The information in this article is valid as at 2009 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

 

Subject
Ethnic Communities
Organisations
Church of England. Diocese of Singapore
Church of England--Dioceses--Singapore
Philosophy, psychology and religion>>Religion>>Christianity
People and communities>>Social groups and communities

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