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CHIJmes

CHIJmes in Victoria Street began as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, established in 1852, initially as an orphanage then later as a school for girls. It stands today as a commercial site, but its chapel and adjoining intricately carved buildings have been preserved.

History
Rev Mother St. Mathilde Raclot (b 1814 - d.1911) and 3 Sisters from the Holy Infant Jesus were encouraged by a French priest, Rev. Father V. M. Beurel to start a school for girls in Singapore in 1854 in Victoria Street. The first class of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus was attended by European and Eurasian girls. In 1856, Rev. Father Beurel extended the Convent when he acquired the adjoining Caldwell House, built in 1840-1841 by G. D. Coleman and now, the second oldest surviving building in Singapore. Caldwell House was used for many years as the Sister's workroom with the semicircular upstairs room used for sewing, reading and writing whilst the first storey served as a parlour for visiting guests.

The 2 storey orphanage, built around 1856, was the home of unwanted children. Father Beurel eventually acquired other lots of land between Victoria Street and North Bridge Road, to build the school for girls. Pupils included boys in the early years, most notably David Marshall.

Description
Father Charles Benedict Nain (b.1870 - d.1916) has been credited for designing the Gothic-inspired chapel built in 1903 with later extensions designed by Swan & MacLaren added in 1950 - 1951. The last service there was conducted on 3 November 1983 and it is now used for commercial purposes as Chijmes Hall.

Father Beurel also founded St Nicholas Girls' School which began classes in 1933 which were first conducted in 4 bungalows, part of the 1890s Hotel Van Wijk. These buildings were later incorporated into the convent grounds. St Nicholas Girls' School moved to its own premises in 1913.

Classes at Victoria Convent were conducted until November 1983 when the cluster of buildings within its walls were gazzetted and renamed CHIJmes.

CHIJmes (Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus), 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996.
Completed: 1903 (Chapel). 
Architect: Father C. B. Nain (Chapel).
Owner: Chijmes Investment Pte Ltd.
Gazetted as a national monument: 26 October 1990.



References
Samuel, D. S. (1991). Singapore's heritage: Through places of historical interest (pp. 158-160). Singapore: Elixir Consultancy Service. 
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SAM)

Tyers, R. K. (1976). Singapore: Then and now (p. 54). Singapore: University Education Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE)


Further Readings
Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1996). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (pp. 275-276). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW)

Liu, G. (1996). In granite and chunam: The national monuments of Singapore (pp. 255-269). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 725.94095957 LIU)

Resonance: songs of our forefathers /  photographs by Kwek Leng Joo ... [et al.] ; text by G. Uma Devi. (2009). (pp. 132-137). Singapore: Preservation of Monuments Board.                                                                                                                                                                                                (Call no.: RSING 725.94095957 RES)

Wan Meng Hao.  (2009). Heritage places of Singapore. (pp54-55). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 WAN)

Goodwood Journal, 4th Qtr., 20-22. (1976).
(Call no.: RCLOS 052 GHCGJ) 


The information in this article is valid as at 1998 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
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Educational Buildings
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Religious Buildings
Convents--Singapore
Architecture--Conservation and restoration--Singapore
Schools--Singapore
Singapore--History--1819-1867
Arts>>Architecture>>Religious buildings
Arts>>Architecture>>Educational buildings

Librarian Recommendations
>> Stamford Road
>> CHIJMES Chapel : exterior
>> Bras Basah Road


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