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Church of Saints Peter and Paul

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul was built in 1870. Located on Queen Street, the church is historically associated with the growth of the Chinese Catholic community in Singapore. Besides funding from the French Catholic community, the local Chinese Catholics also contributed to the church's establishment. The church was gazetted as a national monument in 2003.

History
To serve the religious needs of the Chinese Catholic community, a small chapel was erected at the site of the current St. Joseph's Institution in Bras Basah Road in 1830. Soon, the chapel proved too small for the growing number of worshippers. With the planned construction of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd nearby, the Chinese congregation joined the worshippers at Cathedral. With growing needs of various linguistic goups plans were made for a new church to be built nearby for the Chinese and Indian Catholics. This new church was the Church of Saints Peter and Paul whose construction was completed in the 1860s. The church was gazetted a national monument in 2003.

Description
Built by Father Pierre Paris between 1869-1870, Emperor Napolean III was supposed to have paid for the cost of the compound wall of the church. Locally, Pedro Tan Neo Keah contributed significantly to the construction of the church and also encouraged people to donate to the cause. The original Church proved too small after some time and was enlarged twice; once between 1891and 1892 by Father F. Vignol and again between 1910 and 1911. The 1891-1892 expansion saw the erection of three marble altars, a new transept and sacristy and the 1910-1911 expansion resulted in the entrance porch and choir loft being decorated. Father Paris, who laboured to see the church flourish, is remembered for his gift of three fine bells that are still being used today. Another significant contributor to the Church was Joseph Chan Tek Yi, who built 11 houses in 1897 at his own cost to accommodate widows, catechists and the aged. This became the St. Joseph's House. Joseph Chan Tek Yi together with Low Gek Seng bore the cost of the 1910-1911 expansion work of the church.

The church is built in the tropical Gothic style, a popular architectural style amongst the other churches built during the colonial period in Singapore. One striking feature of the church is the presence of the statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul that Father Paris placed on either side of the facade. At the time of writing this, the Church is undergoing redevelopment work and is in the middle of a fund-raising drive to raise an estimated $7 million. This work will add a new Parish building, a Columbarium and Adoration rooms to the Church.

Variant names
Church of Saint Peter and Paul, Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Chinese Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Queen Street Church, Church of Sts. Peter and Paul.



Author
Naidu Ratnala Thulaja



References
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore: 1819-1867 (pp. 248-254). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)

Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (pp. 272). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW)

Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2, pp. 247-248). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)

Samuel, D. S. (1991). Singapore's heritage: Through places of historical interest (pp. 152). Singapore: Elixir Consultancy Service.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SAM) 

Queen Street church to be preserved. (2003, February 11). The Straits Times, Prime News.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul. Retrieved May 7, 2003, from www.catholic.org.sg/spp/

The information in this article is valid as at 2003 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>>Religious Buildings
Catholic church buildings--Singapore
Singapore--History--1867-1942
Monuments--Singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Religious buildings
History>>Asia>>Southeast Asia>>Singapore



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