St. Matthew's Church, Singapore
Encyclopedia
Saint Matthew's Church is a local Anglican
church in Singapore
, one of the 26 Anglican parishes in the nation.
Christ
so as to grow a community
that continues to glorify Him. (Disciple; Align; Reach out; Exalt [God])
, she re-located to Eng Hoon Street in Tiong Bahru in 2006. Begun as a Cantonese congregation, Chinese Singaporeans are still the majority, although the Cantonese congregation has moved to St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
.
The total church population is estimated to be about 400. There are about 170 English-speaking persons (including English-speaking Chinese) in the English congregation, and about 120 Mandarin-speaking Chinese in the Mandarin congregation. There are on average 28 youth in the English Youth Service and the same number of children in the English Children's Ministry. The Mandarin Youth Fellowship has 6 youth and the Mandarin Children's Ministry an average attendance of 9 children.
.
-speaking Chinese congregation under St. Peter's Church, Singapore.
site and the present site were near two of the places used to gather and screen Chinese men aged 18 to 55 for the Sook Ching massacre
in 1942: the present Police Cantonment Complex
, and the area between Singapore General Hospital
and Tiong Bahru Road.
, a second building was constructed at Neil Road
, which expanded to include a kindergarten
.
Dr
John Chew Hiang Chea
(周贤正大主教), who is the 3rd Archbishop
of the Church of the Province of South East Asia
as well as the 9th Bishop of Singapore
.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
church in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, one of the 26 Anglican parishes in the nation.
Vision
To D.A.R.E. for the Lord JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
so as to grow a community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
that continues to glorify Him. (Disciple; Align; Reach out; Exalt [God])
Current Status Summary
, St Matthew's Church, in her 105th year, has both English and Mandarin congregations, serving people from all parts of the island. After about 77 years at Neil RoadNeil Road
Neil Road is a one-way road in Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar in the planning areas of Outram and Bukit Merah in Singapore. The road starts at the junction of South Bridge Road, Maxwell Road and Tanjong Pagar Road and ends at Jalan Bukit Merah which then merges into the latter...
, she re-located to Eng Hoon Street in Tiong Bahru in 2006. Begun as a Cantonese congregation, Chinese Singaporeans are still the majority, although the Cantonese congregation has moved to St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
Saint Andrew's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Singapore, the country's largest cathedral. It is located near City Hall MRT Interchange in the Downtown Core, within the Central Area in Singapore's central business district. It is the Cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore and...
.
The total church population is estimated to be about 400. There are about 170 English-speaking persons (including English-speaking Chinese) in the English congregation, and about 120 Mandarin-speaking Chinese in the Mandarin congregation. There are on average 28 youth in the English Youth Service and the same number of children in the English Children's Ministry. The Mandarin Youth Fellowship has 6 youth and the Mandarin Children's Ministry an average attendance of 9 children.
History
The St Matthew's Church Chinese congregation has the longest history among all the congregations within the Anglican Diocese of SingaporeAnglican Diocese of Singapore
The Anglican Diocese of Singapore consists of 26 Anglican parishes in Singapore to date and 6 deaneries throughout the Asia region. It has an established history of church-planting as well as providing educational, medical and social services in Singapore and the neighbouring region. The Diocese...
.
Founding
St Matthew's Church was founded on 29 September 1902, beginning as a CantoneseStandard Cantonese
Cantonese, or Standard Cantonese, is a language that originated in the vicinity of Canton in southern China, and is often regarded as the prestige dialect of Yue Chinese....
-speaking Chinese congregation under St. Peter's Church, Singapore.
During World War II
Historically, the Neil RoadNeil Road
Neil Road is a one-way road in Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar in the planning areas of Outram and Bukit Merah in Singapore. The road starts at the junction of South Bridge Road, Maxwell Road and Tanjong Pagar Road and ends at Jalan Bukit Merah which then merges into the latter...
site and the present site were near two of the places used to gather and screen Chinese men aged 18 to 55 for the Sook Ching massacre
Sook Ching massacre
The Sook Ching massacre was a systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements among the Chinese in Singapore by the Japanese military during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, after the British colony surrendered on 15 February 1942 during the Second World War. Sook Ching was later...
in 1942: the present Police Cantonment Complex
Police Cantonment Complex
The Police Cantonment Complex is a high-rise government complex located on 391 New Bridge Road, Singapore. It was officially opened in July 2001....
, and the area between Singapore General Hospital
Singapore General Hospital
The Singapore General Hospital is the largest and oldest hospital in Singapore, of which the foundation of its first building was laid in 1821....
and Tiong Bahru Road.
Second Building
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a second building was constructed at Neil Road
Neil Road
Neil Road is a one-way road in Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar in the planning areas of Outram and Bukit Merah in Singapore. The road starts at the junction of South Bridge Road, Maxwell Road and Tanjong Pagar Road and ends at Jalan Bukit Merah which then merges into the latter...
, which expanded to include a kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
.
Third Building
The present building at 1K Eng Hoon Street was dedicated to the glory of God on 7 May 2006 by the Most ReverendMost Reverend
The Most Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church , all bishops are styled "The Most Reverend", as well as monsignors of the rank of protonotary apostolic de numero.*In the Roman Catholic Church , archbishops are styled "The...
Dr
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
John Chew Hiang Chea
John Chew Hiang Chea
John Chew is currently the third Metropolitan Archbishop and Primate of the Province of Anglican Church in South East Asia as well as the Bishop of Singapore.-Education:...
(周贤正大主教), who is the 3rd Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Church of the Province of South East Asia
Church of the Province of South East Asia
The Church of the Province of South East Asia, a member church of the Anglican Communion, was created in 1996, comprising the four dioceses of Kuching, Sabah, Singapore and West Malaysia...
as well as the 9th Bishop of Singapore
Bishop of Singapore
The Bishop of Singapore is the diocesan bishop for the Anglican Diocese of Singapore, founded in 1909.-List of bishops:*1881 Rt Revd George Frederick Hose, Bishop of Singapore, Labuan & Sarawak 1881*1909 Rt Revd Charles James Ferguson-Davie...
.
Pastors & Staff
- Revd Stephen Lim Thiam Yew (林添友牧正) - Vicar
- Revd Thong Tang Hiong (汤郑雄牧师) - Priest (Mandarin congregation)
- Mr Anthony Fong - Administrative Officer
- Ms Cindy Yam - Administrative Staff
Sources
- Wikipedia: Anglican Diocese of SingaporeAnglican Diocese of SingaporeThe Anglican Diocese of Singapore consists of 26 Anglican parishes in Singapore to date and 6 deaneries throughout the Asia region. It has an established history of church-planting as well as providing educational, medical and social services in Singapore and the neighbouring region. The Diocese...
- Directory of Churches in The Diocese of Singapore website
- Information Board on St Matthew's Church
- National Council of Churches of Singapore, "A Guide To Churches & Christian Organisations in Singapore 2005-2006", page 15
- "St Matthew's 100" (St Matthew's Church Annual, 2002)
- "St Matthew's Church 98th Anniversary" (St Matthew's Church Annual, Sep 2000)