Christianity in Singapore

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Christians in Singapore constitute approximately 14.6% of the country's population; 4.8% (32.9% of Christians) being Roman Catholics and the remaining 9.8% (67.1% of Christians) being of other mostly Protestant denominations and traditions.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Roman Catholicism 3 Protestantism 4 Other Christian churches 5 Notable churches and organisations 5.1 Anglican 5.2 Assemblies of God 5.3 Baptist 5.4 Churches of Christ 5.5 Eastern Orthodox 5.6 Evangelical 5.7 Independent churches 5.8 Lutheran 5.9 Methodist 5.10 Oriental Orthodox 5.11 Pentecostal 5.12 Presbyterian 5.13 Roman Catholic 5.14 Megachurches 5.15 Other churches 6 Parachurch organisations 7 Missionary schools 7.1 Anglican Schools 7.2 Methodist Schools 7.3 Presbyterian Schools 7.4 Roman Catholic Schools 8 Theological colleges and schools 9 References 10 External links

[edit] History

Christianity first arrived on Singapore’s shores soon after Sir Stamford Raffles founded a trading post here in 1819. Within half a year, the first Protestant missionary arrived to set up a local ministry. Subsequently, the first Catholic priest came in December 1821 to check on the feasibility of opening a missionary station and celebrated the first Mass. While the colonial administration adopted an official policy of neutrality and non-interference regarding religion, missionaries establishes churches and Christian ministries on the island. They also set up welfare organisations and many missionary schools which are well regarded for their high quality education today.

Local-born church leaders gradually took over the running of their ministries. Theological colleges were established to produce the next generation of leaders, and more churches and Christian organisations were set up, resulting in an increase in the proportion of Christians in Singapore today. The percentage of Christians among Singaporeans increased from 12.7% in 1990 to 14.6% in 2000.^[2]

[edit] Roman Catholicism

Main article: Roman Catholicism in Singapore

The Roman Catholic population in Singapore generally consists of Eurasians, Chinese (including Peranakans) and Indians. The majority of Catholics, notably those who are older, are noted for their preference of English customs and masses conducted in Latin. Younger Catholics tend to prefer a less formal forms of worship similar to those practised by Protestants, and also prefer masses in the vernacular. There is, however, a growing number of young people interested in more traditional forms of worship, and a movement to restore these elements as well as the Latin Mass is gaining ground. There are 30 Roman Catholic churches in Singapore, each administering to a particular district in Singapore.

Singapore has a Catholic Archdiocese headed by His Grace Archbishop Nicholas Chia who presides at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. Peranakan Catholics are generally concentrated in the Church of the Holy Family in Katong.

Various Roman Catholic churches in Singapore are actively involved in social services such as welfare homes, the opening of soup kitchens as well as missionary trips to place like Indonesia and the Philippines. They are also currently supporting the creation of Small Christian Communities (SCC) in order to organise and gather the Roman Catholic communities within their neighbourhoods.

A fledgling Greek-Catholic community, dependent on the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic bishop of Melbourne is also growing, and meets in private.

[edit] Protestantism

The majority of non-Catholic churches are under the umbrella of the National Council of Churches of Singapore. Most belong to Protestant traditions which consist of an array of denominations. The more prominent ones include the Anglican, Baptist, Brethren, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches. In recent years, independent non-denominational megachurches have sprung up and been successful in reaching out to new members.

Although the churches seem divided along denomination lines, many Christian ministries and congregations often come together and co-ordinate activities and good works for both the Christian community and society at large. In addition, Singapore is considered a key base for missionary and humanitarian activities in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Beyond the churches, there are many Christian organisations engaging in activities such as fund raising, healthcare for the needy, establishing homes for the elderly, providing family services and youth development. These organisations include the Salvation Army, Fei Yue Family Centres, Teen Challenge and various community hospitals. The Christian community also comes together for fund-raising events like the LoveSingapore movement which organises walkathons and prayer sessions for those in need.

Recognising the multi-religious makeup of Singapore, the Christian community actively take part in inter-religious dialogue in the country. The National Council of Churches of Singapore was involved in the drafting of the Declaration of Religious Harmony published in 2003.

[edit] Other Christian churches

Other Christian churches in Singapore include the ancient Armenian Church which has a church building but has had no resident clergy for many decades, the Coptic Orthodox Church which meets in the Armenian Church, and the Syrian Orthodox Church; the latter two churches generally minister to the Coptic and Indian communities respectively. There is also a small but growing Eastern Orthodox congregation made up of ethnic Armenians, Egyptians, Greeks, Indians and Russians, constituting a small minority in the local Christian population. A small, but growing, number of local Singaporeans attend these churches as well. There is also a tiny Greek-Catholic community present.

[edit] Notable churches and organisations

[edit] Anglican

The Anglican Diocese of Singapore

• Saint Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
• Saint George's Church

[edit] Assemblies of God

• Elim Church Singapore
• Calvary Assemblies of God
• Emmanuel Assemblies of God

[edit] Baptist

Singapore Baptist Convention

• Abundant Life Baptist Church
• Acts Baptist Church
• Agape Baptist Church
• Bauhinia Baptist Church
• Calvary Baptist Church
• Changi Baptist Church
• Cherith Baptist Church
• Community of Praise Baptist Church
• Coronation Baptist Church
• Covenant Community Baptist Church
• Eternal Life Baptist Church
• Evangel Baptist Church
• Everlasting Life Baptist Fellowship
• Good News Baptist Church
• Gospel Baptist Church
• Grace Baptist Church
• Great Commission Baptist Church
• His Family Centre
• Hope Baptist Church
• Hosanna Baptist Church
• International Baptist Church
• International Japanese Baptist Church
• International Mission Board
• Jesus' Disciples Baptist Community Church
• Judson Baptist Church
• Karen Baptist Church
• Kay Poh Road Baptist Church
• Leng Kwang Baptist Church
• Neighbourhood Baptist Church
• New Life Baptist Church
• Queenstown Baptist Church
• Redeemer Baptist Church
• Sembawang Baptist Church
• Shalom Baptist Chapel
• Shelter Baptist Church
• The Singapore Baptist Church
• Thomson Road Baptist Church

[edit] Churches of Christ

• Bedok Church of Christ
• Citivision Church of Christ
• Geylang Church of Christ
• Jurong Church of Christ
• Lavender Church of Christ
• Lim Ah Pin Road Church of Christ
• Moulmein Church of Christ
• Pasir Panjang Church of Christ

[edit] Eastern Orthodox

• Holy Resurrection Orthodox Christian Church of Singapore
• St Nektarios Chapel - under the Greek Old Calendarists.

[edit] Evangelical

• Bethany Evangelical Free Church
• Charis Evangelical Free Church
• Church of God (Evangelical)
• Covenant Evangelical Free Church
• Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church
• Emmaus Evangelical Free Church
• Geylang Evangelical Free Church
• Praise Evangelical Free Church
• S-word Evangelical Free Church
• Woodlands Evangelical Free Church

[edit] Independent churches

• Church of Singapore

[edit] Lutheran

• Lutheran Church in Singapore
• Bedok Lutheran Church
• Jurong Christian Church
• Lutheran Church Of Our Redeemer
• Mas Kuning Lutheran Church
• Queenstown Lutheran Church
• Thai Good News Center
• Yishun Christian Church (Lutheran)

[edit] Methodist

The Methodist Church in Singapore

• The Chinese Annual Conference
  • Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church
  • Bukit Panjang Methodist Church
  • Charis Methodist Church
  • Foochow Methodist Church
  • Geylang Chinese Methodist Church
  • Grace Methodist Church
  • Hakka Methodist Church
  • Hing Hwa Methodist Church
    • Yishun Methodist Mission
  • Holy Covenant Methodist Church
  • Kum Yan Methodist Church
    • Woodlands Carepoint
  • Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church
    • Paya Lebar Methodist Mission
  • Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church
    • Choa Chu Kang Preaching Point
  • SengKang Methodist Church
  • Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church
  • Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church
• The Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference
  • Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church
  • Jurong Tamil Methodist Church
  • Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church
  • Seletar Tamil Methodist Church
  • Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church
  • Tamil Methodist Church
• The Trinity Annual Conference
  • Agape Methodist Church
  • Aldersgate Methodist Church
  • Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church
  • Barker Road Methodist Church
  • Bedok Methodist Church
  • Cairnhill Methodist Church
  • Christ Methodist Church
  • Christalite Methodist Chapel
  • Covenant Community Methodist Church
  • Fairfield Methodist Church
  • Faith Methodist Church
  • Kampong Kapor Methodist Church
  • Living Hope Methodist Church
  • Living Waters Methodist Church
  • The Methodist Church of the Incarnation
  • Paya Lebar Methodist Church
  • Pentecost Methodist Church
  • Toa Payoh Methodist Church
  • Trinity Methodist Church
  • Wesley Methodist Church

[edit] Oriental Orthodox

• Coptic Orthodox Community of St Mark
• St Thomas Syrian Orthodox Cathedral

[edit] Pentecostal

• Cornerstone Community Church
• Pentecostal Church of Singapore

[edit] Presbyterian

• Adam Road Presbyterian Centre
• Changi Bethany Presbyterian Church
• Chen Li Presbyterian Church
• Orchard Road Presbyterian Church
• Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church
• Providence Presbyterian Church
• Singapore Life Church
• Tong Chai Presbyterian Church

[edit] Roman Catholic

• List of Roman Catholic churches in Singapore
  • Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
  • Church of Ss Peter and Paul
  • Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
  • St Joseph's Church
  • Church of St Bernadette
  • Church of St Michael
  • Church of St Teresa
  • Church of the Sacred Heart
  • Novena Church
  • Church of the Holy Family
  • Church of the Holy Trinity
  • Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
  • Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace
  • Church of St Stephen
  • Blessed Sacrament Church
  • Church of St Francis of Assisi
  • Church of St Ignatius
  • Church of St Mary of the Angels
  • Church of the Holy Cross
  • Church of Christ the King
  • Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea
  • Church of St Anthony
  • Church of the Holy Spirit
  • Church of St Joseph
  • Church of the Risen Christ
  • Church of St Francis Xavier
  • Church of St Vincent de Paul
  • Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
  • St Anne's Church

[edit] Megachurches

• City Harvest Church
• Faith Community Baptist Church
• New Creation Church
• Lighthouse Evangelism (Singapore)

[edit] Other churches

• Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator
• Trinity Christian Centre

[edit] Parachurch organisations

• 2 Timothy 2-2
• The Bible Society of Singapore
• Singapore Campus Crusade for Christ
• Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) of Singapore
• Salvation Army
• Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of Singapore
• Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Singapore
• Youth for Christ Singapore

[edit] Missionary schools

[edit] Anglican Schools

• Anglican High School
• Christ Church Secondary School
• Saint Andrew's Junior School
• Saint Andrew's Secondary School
• Saint Hilda's Primary School
• Saint Hilda's Secondary School
• Saint Margaret's Primary School
• Saint Margaret's Secondary School

[edit] Methodist Schools

• Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)
• Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
• Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
• Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
• Fairfield Methodist Primary School
• Fairfield Methodist Secondary School
• Geylang Methodist Primary School
• Geylang Methodist Secondary School
• Methodist Girls' School (Primary)
• Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)
• Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Primary)
• Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)

[edit] Presbyterian Schools

• Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School
• Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School
• Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School
• Presbyterian High School

[edit] Roman Catholic Schools

• Assumption English School
• Assumption Vocational Institute
• Canossa Convent Primary School
• Canossian Convent Kindergarten
• Canossian School For The Hearing-Impaired
• Catholic High School
• Catholic Junior College
• CHIJ Bukit Timah (Primary)
• CHIJ Katong (Primary)
• CHIJ Katong Convent
• CHIJ Kellock Primary
• CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel
• CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity
• CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh)
• CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School
• CHIJ St Joseph's Convent
• CHIJ St Theresa's Convent
• CHIJ Secondary School (Toa Payoh)
• De La Salle School
• Good Shepherd Kindergarten
• Hai Sing Catholic School
• Holy Innocents' High School
• Holy Innocents' Primary School
• Magdalene's Kindergarten
• Maris Stella Kindergarten
• Maris Stella High School
• Marymount Convent School
• Montfort Junior School
• Montfort Secondary School
• Nazareth Centre Kindergarten
• St Anthony's Canossian Primary School
• St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School
• St Anthony's Primary School
• St Gabriel's Primary School
• St Gabriel's Secondary School
• St Joseph's Institution (International)
• St Joseph's Institution
• St Joseph's Institution Junior
• St Patrick's School

[edit] Theological colleges and schools

• Assemblies of God Bible College
• Baptist Theological Seminary
• East Asia School of Theology
• Far Eastern Bible College
• Singapore Bible College
• Trinity Theological College
• Tung Ling Bible College

[edit] References

1. ^ Dept. of Statistics, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore (2001). Census of Population 2000 : Statistical Release 2 : Education, Language and Religion. Singapore: The Dept., Table 39 ("Resident Population Aged 15 Years and Over by Religion, Ethnic Group and Sex"). ISBN 981-04-4459-1.  Available on-line at http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/c2000/r2/t38-45.pdf.
2. ^ Sng, Bobby E.K. (2003). In His Good Time : The Story of the Church in Singapore 1819-2002, 3rd ed., Singapore: Bible Society of Singapore, p. 337. ISBN 981-220-286-2. 

[edit] External links

• Antioch.com.sg: Partial directory of non-Roman Catholic churches in Singapore
• Veritas (official website of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore): Singapore Catholic church directory