In Pictures: Revamped Novena Church reopens with a new look

After being overhauled for three years, Novena Church will finally reopen its doors to the public on Sept 29. The new additions to the iconic church include soaring arches, intricate columns, a dome and 24 large stained glass windows. It also features a larger seating area for worshipers, with a seating capacity of 1,500.

Updated

Published

September 16, 2017 at 2:54 AM

The Church of St Alphonsus, popularly known as the Novena Church, has been restored and upgraded. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

An exterior view of the old (left) and new prayer halls of the Novena Church, showing the vast difference in size. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

The portico of the old church, with a base in the centre that will be used to support the statue of St Alphonsus when it is reinstalled. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

An exterior view of the old (left) and new prayer halls of the Novena Church, showing the vast difference in size. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

The old stained glass icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in the choir loft of the old church, flanked by false organ pipes that belonged to a now-defunct electronic organ. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

Century-old decorative brass sculptures featuring the four evangelists -Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John - and the Sacred Heart of Jesus were found in a Birmingham auction warehouse where they had lain for years. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

A new shrine to The Mother Of Perpetual Help was built out of solid mahogany from Indonesia, with a backdrop of Spanish gold leaf on which is mounted the icon. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

A new set of the Stations of the Cross was hand-carved from plaster and then cast in fibreglass for longevity. The set of 14 stations was made in Cebu, Philippines and took one and a half years to complete. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

Part of the new set of the Stations of the Cross, depicting a crucified Jesus Christ. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

The massive panels of stained glass at the East End of the church feature full portraits of Our Lady of Ransom (left), St Joseph (right), and Jesus, the Most Holy Redeemer in the centre. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

The two angels holding candelabras flanking the nave were discovered at a warehouse in Atlanta, USA. The brass candelabras were in such bad shape that the architect had them removed and new ones made in Spain. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

The interior of the new church which can accommodate 1,500 worshipers in air-conditioned comfort. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

The central portion of the new stained glass rosette at the West End of the church features the seal of the The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists, a worldwide congregation of the Catholic Church dedicated to missionary work and founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

A 24-hour prayer garden at the side of the old church. The original red brick wall and gate to the back of the church was preserved. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

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