St Andrew's Cathedral

The St Andrew's Cathedral Choir is the oldest musical institution in Singapore. The choir sessions take place at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM at the Church services on Sunday mornings. Two choirs of approximately 45 musicians and singers provide music in contemporary and traditional styles. Grand piano, guitars & flutes offer a more contemporary accompaniment for choir and assembly singing at the 9:30 mass, while the more conventional sound of their glorious Organ and choir soars from the choir loft at the 11:00 mass. The choir director is Mr Lim Chin Kai.

One of the few surviving examples of English Neo-Gothic style of architecture in Singapore, St. Andrew's Cathedral is an architectural masterpiece. The structure is 68.58 m long and 35.5 m wide. The building features Madras chunam plaster, a mixture made from shell lime without sand, egg white, coarse sugar or jaggery, and water in which coconut husks had been added later. After drying, the plastered walls and columns were polished with rock crystal or rounded stones and dusted with fine soapstone powder, giving the building its smooth and glossy surface.

A half-tonne bell was donated by Maria Balestier, wife of the then American Consul, Joseph Balestier in 1843. The bell was replaced by a new peal of bells in 1889. The old bell has now been shifted to the National Museum of Singapore. A carriage porch is located under the steeple, offering visitors shelter from the heat of Singapore. In the sanctuary stands a high altar with an altarpiece depicting the Nativity of Jesus. There are three magnificent multi-coloured stained-glass windows which bear pictures of three important people in the history of Singapore: John Crawford, second Resident of Singapore; Sir Stamford Raffles, who established Singapore as a British trading port; and Major-General William J. Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements between 1843 and 1855.

Tablets commemorating the victims of the 1915 Sepoy Mutiny in Singapore are present on the north wall, and on one of the pillars on the left aisle. The War Memorial Wing is dedicated to servicemen who died in World War II. It was inaugurated in 1952 by General Sir Gerald Templer, High Commissioner to Malaya, accompanied by Malcolm MacDonald, Commissioner General in Southeast Asia. The wing also has a plaque listing the names of fallen Malayan Civil Service (MCS) members.

Located between the St. Andrew’s Road and North Bridge Road, St. Andrew’s Cathedral is situated right next to the City Hall MRT and is fairly easy to reach to.

Bus: One can easily board a bus to reach the church (bus lines 10, 124, 166, 197 and 61 halt next to the church). However, note that bus coaches will not be allowed inside the church premises, and they will drop you off at the gate on St Andrew’s Road, which faces the Singapore Cricket Club, and is next to The National Gallery.  

Car: Alternatively, one can drive to the church. Unfortunately, there are limited parking facilities available at the Cathedral, and the parking charges applicable are as follows:
Monday to Saturday: 6:00 AM - 06:00 PM: SGD 2.80 for the first hour or a part thereof; SGD 1.40 for every subsequent half hour or part thereof
6:00 PM onwards: SGD 3.00 per entry
Sunday: 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM: SGD 2.80 for the first hour or a part thereof; SGD 1.40 for every subsequent half hour or part thereof
5:00 PM onwards: SGD 3.00 per entry

Due to the limited parking space, most visitors prefer to park their vehicles in the surrounding car parks. These include the following:
The Adelphi: SGD 3.21 per entry
Capitol Piazza: SGD 2 for first 2 hours
Raffles City: SGD 2.2 for first 2 hours
National Gallery: SGD 1.30 per half hour

• A religious person or not, do sit through the Sunday church services and listen to the beautiful choir of St. Andrew's Cathedral, which is the oldest musical institution in Singapore.
• Services in the church are offered on Sunday at different times and in different languages. Generally, those that are held in the Nave are liturgical, while those that are held at the New Sanctuary are more informal and contemporary. Thus, it is a good idea to check the details beforehand, so that you can attend the service that you wish to.
• Light refreshments are served after most of the services. Make sure that you stay back for them, since it is a great opportunity to meet the clergy and the pastors, and to make some new friends.
• The church premises are handicap friendly, and thus are accessible for all.
• Eating and drinking are strictly prohibited inside the Nave, which is the Main Worship Hall. Silence must be observed at all time and phones should be on silent mode.
• The dress code to be followed is smart casuals and proper footwear inside the church.
• The Cathedral Café is a part of the premises, and is open on all days of the week from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM. The cafe serves some delicious hot foods, ice creams, and beverages including coffees, teas, and cold drinks. It is open for everyone, including those who do not want to eat something. Additionally, free WiFi is available at the café.