Opening of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church Heritage Gallery

Bishop Philip Lim,

Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore

Reverend Lek Yong Teck

President of the Chinese Annual Conference

Mr. Tan Hua Joo,

Chairman of the TACMC local church exco.

Reverend Edmund Koh

A very good morning.

1. I'm very humbled and grateful to have an opportunity to be here. Thank you for inviting me to launch the Heritage Gallery at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. I'm truly honoured to represent the government, to represent the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, as well as the National Heritage Board, to join you in this very significant development in this historically important Church.

2. As we have heard from both Reverends, today's opening really is also a very timely tribute to SG60, our nation's 60 years of independence, and commemorates this century-old building. I understand from Reverend Koh that the four original timber panels behind the altar, with the words, 上帝是爱, God is Love, were unveiled 30 years ago during its first very extensive renovation, and more such panels in this sanctuary were uncovered over the last three years. Thank you to the archives committee, Susan and Sebastian's hard work. This extensive renovation unearthed many artefacts and many stories to be told and memories to be shared with brothers and sisters in Christ.

A Church with Deep Roots

3. This year, 2025, also marks 80 years since the end of second World War, during which the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church became a safe haven for many, like what Bishop has told us earlier.

4. Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church is the oldest Chinese Methodist church in Singapore. It was founded in 1889 to serve Chinese migrants, as we have heard from Bishop and Reverend, for 136 years, it has been a home of faith; home of fellowship. Six generations have grown up and worshiped faithfully in their pews, and that's why I made a beeline for Mr. Tan Hua Joo's mum. As I understand it, Mr. Tan Hua Joo's great-great-grandfather started worshiping in this Church, and similarly his great-grandfather, grandparents, and now himself and his son, as you can see.

5. Now back to the Church as a national monument. It was made a national monument in 1989. The Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church really holds a special place in Singapore's history. We have much to learn from the Church's journey and the legacy over the 136 years for all Singaporeans.

Two Lessons from this Gallery

6. I did a little bit of homework before I came. I was doing some reflection, and I thought I'll share with you. I personally have gained two key lessons from the Heritage Gallery.

7. Now the first thing I've gained is that the religious organisations in Singapore really play a vital role in the lives and the strength of our communities in Singapore. During this current turbulent time, I think this really stands out.

   1. From its earliest days, the Church cared for the community. A first-floor social hall served the neighbourhood. And 100 years ago, and that is 1925, the Children's Clinic started supporting needy families, and they have not stopped supporting the communities in this area.

   2. As you have heard from Bishop Philip and also Reverend Edmund, during the Second World War, church leaders like Mr. Lim Yeow Tong and also Reverend Hong Han Keng, they kept the doors open. I think it takes courage to keep the doors open during those turbulent times, and the Church served as a refuge for people here. In fact, earlier on, we were downstairs at the 五脚基 (five-foot way) talking for 10 - 15 minutes, because it's a wonderful place to soak in the history. Did you know that the Church thickened its five-foot way walls, to 10 cm?

   3. During the turbulent period, the buffered and the thickened wall kept everybody in the Church safe. In addition to that, the rooftop bell warned of air raids. I think it's really brilliant that the church leader took those steps. We also have records from what we unearthed, that indicated that some 300 people took shelter in the Church at that time. So, in that dark period, the Church continued to hold Sunday services, which is so important, serving as a beacon of hope and comfort to everyone, to really have that fellowship every Sunday, come rain or shine, come peace or war.

   4. So today, the call to serve remains very strong, because I know that the Church is continuing its outreach to the community in Chin Swee as well as Jalan Kukoh. For example, the church partners with St Luke's ElderCare to minister to the residents in Telok Blanch. Volunteers from the Church also deliver essentials through regular home visits based on the needs of the residents. I think actions speak louder than words.

   5. Here in the city center, I'm very impressed that the Church had this new move, which I think is very needed in today's turbulent world. The Church has a new ground floor space that offers to workers in this CBD area, a quiet place of respite, to rest, to read and to reflect. I think this is much needed in today's fast-paced society. That's the first thing I gleaned – at the Church, all the religious organisations play a very important role to improve livelihoods and also to strengthen the community.

8. The second thing that I personally gleaned, as I consulted the records, is we really celebrate and practise religious harmony as our Singapore way of life.

   1. We grew up in a very cosmopolitan city-state. We grew up with friends from different races and religions, and we celebrate that right here. As we step out of this Church, in Telok Ayer we see a Methodist Church, a mosque, as well as a temple, side by side. In fact, after a Sunday service, as you walk over to the hawker center to have a meal, it is not uncommon to have us sitting down, maybe as a cell group, but also sharing the table with fellow Singaporeans who just came out from the temple or the mosque. To us, that is a Singaporean way of life and we must celebrate that.

   2. The Thian Hock Keng Temple, the Al-Abrar Mosque, as well as the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, have existed peacefully together for more than 100 years. So, to read this testimony – that's a proof point, and this is how Singaporeans of different faiths, religions and backgrounds live harmoniously together. I want to thank the church leader for working closely with the religious leaders from other organisations on that, and this truly is the spirit that our pioneers fostered, which remains our Singapore legacy today.

   3. A century ago, the Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church building fund was supported by philanthropists of different faiths, including from Mr Oei Tiong Ham and Mr Eu Tong Sen, they leaned forward and they contributed, and this is what makes Singapore special.

   4. Our mutual respect for one another, regardless of culture and belief, really underpins Singapore's stability and progress. We are very grateful for how Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church has hosted several interfaith visits together with Thian Hock Keng, as well as Al-Abrar Mosque. It has also supported my colleagues at NHB, National Heritage Board, in these learning journeys. NHB will bring along fellow Singaporeans, young and not so young, on learning journeys using headsets. I want to thank the Church, volunteers, leaders, cell groups, for joining us in this learning journey, and bringing fellow Singaporeans and visitors of all ages, ethnicities and religions to this very impressive National Monument.

Working Together to Keep These Values Alive

9. The gallery is a testament to how the Church is not only showcasing its heritage, but also really living out its legacy on a daily basis. Through Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0, MCCY, as well as our heritage agency, will continue to partner with our community, to partner with Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, to celebrate Singapore's history and culture. I want to assure you, we will work hand in hand with you, and we will continue to care for our national monuments, support research, and create more galleries like this. So we should not stop at today's heritage gallery, and we know that together, as we conduct more research, we can perhaps collectively unearth even more shared memories over the last 136 years. We invite all Singaporeans to also take part in this shared journey.

Conclusion

10. On behalf of the Singapore Government, on behalf of MCCY and NHB, please allow me to extend our heartiest congratulations to everyone in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church family, everyone in the archives committee who have worked very hard in the last three years, in fact, even before that, and all volunteers and supporters. Thank you for being faithful stewards of a history that belongs to everyone in this Church and also to Singaporeans.

11. May this gallery deepen our understanding of the past, the past 136 years, may this gallery guide our choices for the future, and may this gallery inspire us to serve one another with love and hope.

12. On that note, I want to wish everyone a blessed weekend. But allow me, to take one, two minutes to say a few words in Mandarin.

Mandarin Remarks

各位朋友们，大家早上好!

13. 首先很高兴在这个美丽的星期六早上和大家一起出席“卫理公会直落亚逸礼拜堂百年历史走廊”的开幕仪式。礼拜堂现有的这个建筑，刚才大家都听到了，在1925年开始启动。至今有一百年的历史，而今年新加坡则是欢庆建国六十周年。所以我觉得这让我们百年历史走廊的落成和开幕更别具意义。在此，我要代表政府，代表我们文社青部衷心地祝贺卫理公会直落亚逸礼拜堂顺利地完成翻新，同时也在翻新的过程中发掘的文物在这“百年历史走廊”中，加以保留和展示，让更多的国人，更多的基督教徒对于早期的新加坡历史有更深刻的认识。

14. 我觉得回顾历史非常重要，因为回顾历史能够帮助我们更好地规划未来的道路。卫理公会直落亚逸礼拜堂，我觉得有两个重要的要点和我们分享。我刚才有谈到，如果现在用华语简介地讲到，首先，教会在很早136年前，早年就已经展出了关怀社区的精神。一路走来136年，到现在的今天教会继续尽心尽力地关怀社区，关怀弱势群体。

15. 第二，宗教和谐与族群的融合一直是我们新加坡稳定坚固的基石。一百多年前呢，在这同一条街上，有回教堂，有道教天福宫，当然有基督教徒的礼拜堂。一百多年来，大家和谐共处，这种跨宗教的和谐源远流长。我觉得这个特色尤其在现在全世界动荡不安的时候，我们要，特别珍惜新加坡的多元文化,多元种族。我记得十年前，2015年，现在有一位校长Mr Khoo (Tse Horng)在这里，我认识他多年。因为我在2015年很感恩被派到教育部。我在教育部服了五年，就是2015年到2020年。资政当时候他是总理, 李显龙总理当时候就叫我负责推广华文华语，他知道我对推广华文华语这方面有热忱。那我常说我和我们的老师们和同学们，我都说华语不仅仅是母语，它也不仅仅是一个科目，它是让我们可以传承我们价值观的一个重要媒体和平台。所以我觉得华文华语不只是来克服听写和默写，我们希望可以让我们的学生们走出校园，那我也是推广华文学习委员会的主席。那几年，我们就带领我们的学生们走出校园，走进文化，所以就启动了很多刚才我用英文讲的学习之旅, 带了很多的学生们, 老师们，义工们来到这条街，让大家体验到多元文化，多元种族，这是这样子的一个氛围。所以这个我觉得大家要呼吁我们年轻一代，要好好的珍惜。

16. 那我再次代表文社青部，代表政府衷心地祝贺“卫理公会直落亚逸礼拜堂百年历史走廊” 圆满落成开幕，恭喜你们！也希望，我们国人一起将我们珍贵的共同记忆代代相传。谢谢大家。祝福你。