The spiritual side of Singapore

Scratch beyond the surface of Singapore and you’ll find places of worship that demonstrate its multicultural and multi-religious heritage.

ARMENIAN CHURCH OF SAINT GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR

Although the oldest church in Singapore is located in the heart of the city’s Civic District, it sits in a tranquil, leafy oasis that seems a world away from the hubbub of urban life. Built in 1835 by a small group of Armenian businessmen, it was designed by Singapore’s pre-eminent architect of the time, George Drumgoole Coleman (many nearby landmarks were also designed by him). With its distinctive spire, the church is an elegant ode to Neo-Classical architecture and continues to be the focal point of Singapore’s Armenian community. The church graveyard houses the grave of Agnes Joaquim, who discovered the orchid hybrid Vanda Miss Joaquim, which is today Singapore’s national flower.

MAGHAIN ABOTH SYNAGOGUE

Built in 1878, this is the oldest synagogue in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Its name means “Shield of our Fathers” in Hebrew, and it was constructed when Singapore’s Jewish population was growing. Recognisable by the Star of David on its fa√ßade, it is one of two synagogues in the city (the other being the Chesed El Synagogue at nearby Oxley Rise). Neo-Classical in architecture, the synagogue also incorporates many Jewish elements in its design such as the sunk-in well for ritual baths and the raised pulpit in the prayer hall, positioned to face Jerusalem. Adjacent to the temple is the Jacob Ballas Centre, which is its community centre and has a kosher grocery store and restaurant. The synagogue itself is open to visitors only by appointment.

SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE

Smack in the heart of Chinatown is an unexpected find—Singapore’s oldest existing Hindu temple. The Sri Mariamman Temple was built in 1843 by specialised craftsmen from Southern India who worked alongside Indian convicts. In the century and a half since, more additions have been made to this striking complex. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Sri Mariamman, a healer of sickness and disease. Like most of Singapore’s Hindu temples, the Sri Mariamman is built in the South Indian Dravidian architectural style, which is noted for temples with ornate gateway towers known as the gopuram. The gopuram here was recently given a year-long facelift and features 72 elaborately coloured and intricate Hindu deities. Its grandeur, beauty and importance as a place of worship attract throngs of visitors and devotees daily.

SULTAN MOSQUE

This historic mosque sits in what was once the heart of Malay royalty in Singapore, Kampong Glam. Named after Sultan Hussein Shah, the last ruler of the Johor Empire, the mosque was first built in his honour in 1824 right next to his residence. When it was rebuilt in 1924 to commemorate its centenary in 1924, it was replaced with the beautiful building that stands in its place today. Complete with balustrades, minarets and Doric columns, this Indo-Saracenic masterpiece is topped off with an onion-shaped gold dome. Interestingly, the dome is built on a base of glass bottles donated by the poor who wanted to contribute towards the mosque’s reconstruction. Inside, the prayer hall can seat up to 5,000 worshippers and contains gold-plated floral motifs and calligraphy. Today, the mosque is a focal point for Singapore’s Malay community.

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