80 years on: Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church’s new heritage gallery brings WWII history to life

SINGAPORE – It provided refuge for 300 people during World War II, including serving as a “secret dungeon” where a number of women and children were hidden from the Japanese.

The 136-year-old Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church buffered its walls to ward off stray bullets and bombs, and its bell would chime to warn everyone of air raids. It was also designated as a medical post and air raid shelter where first-aid medical auxiliary services were deployed.

On Sept 13, the church unveiled its new heritage gallery, which is co-funded by the National Heritage Board’s major project grant, to share its storied past.

The launch coincides with Singapore’s 60th year of independence and the church building’s centennial anniversary in 2025.

The gallery’s opening also marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Singapore. On Sept 12 in 1945, following Japan’s announcement of surrender on Aug 15 that same year, the Japanese formally surrendered in Singapore. This marked the end of the Occupation, which had begun in February 1942.

The gallery, spread across four storeys of the church, houses more than 200 items. These include pre-war, wartime and post-war documents such as baptism, marriage and death certificates, World War II artefacts like a helmet from a First Aid Party and other medical auxiliary services.

Additionally, it features items recovered from a

100-year-old time capsule that was unearthed in February

2024.

Among the items from the capsule were a Bible, a hymnal and a 1924 edition of The Straits Times.

There are QR code touchpoints at 29 interactive stations that provide deeper dives into the past. Among these is the sound of the 100-year-old chime of a 70kg brass bell that once warned people of air raids.

To provide an immersive experience, the gallery uses augmented reality where visitors can use their smartphones to scan a QR code and see the harrowing experience of those who hid under a trapdoor during Japanese spot checks.

They can also don a virtual reality headset to witness the extraction of the time capsule and experience a 3D walkthrough of the building’s history.

Speaking at the event, Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling said religious organisations play a vital role in the lives and strength of communities. She also noted how the church continues to care for the community today through initiatives like home visits and distributing essentials to residents in Chin Swee and Jalan Kukoh.

Ms Low, who unveiled a plaque that was previously a 100-year-old hymnal board, added that religious harmony is a way of life in Singapore. The church, Chinese temple Thian Hock Keng and Al-Abrar Mosque have co-existed in Telok Ayer for many years, and have hosted several interfaith visits together.

“This is how Singaporeans of different faiths and backgrounds live harmoniously together,” she said. “This truly is the spirit that our pioneers fostered, which remains our Singapore legacy today.”

The Reverend Edmund Koh, pastor-in-charge of the church, hopes the gallery can be an educational resource for everyone.

“The overarching purpose is to act as a bridge – connecting the past to the present, and different communities to a shared history. It celebrates the diverse threads of faith, culture and community that form Singapore’s unique tapestry,” he said.

The church was founded in 1889 in an Upper Nankin Street shophouse by American missionary Benjamin West to serve Hokkien-speaking immigrants from China.

Its Telok Ayer building, which is in the style of Chinese Renaissance architecture, was completed in 1925 and gazetted a national monument in 1989. It reopened in May 2025 after more than two years of restoration.

Ms Florence Hong, 78, daughter of the late Reverend Hong Han Keng, who led the church through World War II, recalled her father’s bravery, including his visits to prisoner-of-war camps.

“The church doors were always open to all, whatever their faith and race,” she said.

Since Aug 1, the church has set aside a community engagement hub on level one for everyone in the vicinity. The space, named Oasis, is aligned with what its founders did 100 years ago when they designed the first floor as a recreation space for the community’s games and performances.

Mr Tan Hua Joo, chairman of the church’s Local Church Executive Committee, said his great-grandmother, grandmother and father used to hide in the church during World War II.

The 63-year-old, whose family have been members of the church for six generations, said: “Just as the church was a refuge and beacon of hope during World War II, we hope people today around here will walk in and find comfort.”

The heritage gallery is open from Mondays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm. Admission is free. The public can refer to

www.tacmc.org.sg

or e-mail:

ArchiveTA@tacmc.org.sg

for inquiries.

Exploring Singapore’s wartime legacy

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in Singapore, the Changi Chapel and Museum (CCM) and Reflections at Bukit Chandu (RBC) are jointly presenting “Liberation of Singapore” on Sept 13 and 14. The programme offers the public a chance to engage with Singapore’s wartime history through thought-provoking conversations and immersive heritage experiences.

Highlights include the Whispers of War public talk series, which is a three-part exploration of wartime history. The first session, Singapore Syonan-to, about the ideological and social changes during the Japanese Occupation, will be held on Sept 13 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at RBC.

Admission is free. Register at

str.sg/5MsK

Journey to the East: Changi Heritage Trail, led by heritage activist Sarafian Salleh, will be held on Sept 14 from 9.30am to 11.45am at CCM. The guided heritage trail uncovers stories of resilience and shared memory from wartime and post-war communities.

Admission is $20 per participant, with refreshments provided. Register at

str.sg/G7mB