Singapore Life Church

Church in Singapore , Singapore

Singapore Life Church
基督教新加坡生命堂

Church view from Prinsep Street

1°18′08″N 103°51′07″E﻿ / ﻿1.30222°N 103.85187°E﻿ / 1.30222; 103.85187
Location| 144 Prinsep Street
Singapore 188657
Country| Singapore
Denomination| Presbyterian
Website| www.lifechurch.org.sg
History
Founded| 1883
Founder(s)| John A. B. Cook
Architecture
Architect(s)| Laud Architects
Style| Modern
Administration
Synod| Presbyterian Church in Singapore
Clergy
Pastor(s)| Rev Dr Caleb Soo
Rev Kevin Chen

Singapore Life Church (Abbreviation: SLC; Chinese: 基督教新加坡生命堂) is a reformed church [1] located on Prinsep Street within the Central Region of Singapore. Founded in 1883, the church is one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in Singapore.[2] Its moderating minister is Rev. Kevin Chen.

## History

[edit]

Singapore Life Church, initially known as Teck Khah Tng, was founded by Rev. John A. B. Cook in 1883. In 1917, the church purchased a piece of land at 142-144 Prinsep Street. It commenced with the construction of its first building in 1928. A year later, the church was renamed Say Mia Tng Teck Khah. The goal of the church was to promote bible knowledge and Christianity.

In October 1950, the English Worship Service was established by Rev. Timothy Tow Siang Hui. More than 100 members attended the evening services at the church’s main sanctuary.

Church façade from Prinsep Street

In 1955, the church’s session court resolved to split the church into three congregations, namely, Teck Khah (Singapore Life Church), Newton (the present-day Newton Life Church) and the English Service (now the Life Bible-Presbyterian Church). A vote was cast and the results were 332, 107 and 129, respectively.

In 1956, the church rented a plot of land at Changi 10th Milestone to spread the Gospel. It was called the Changi Outreach Station. Three years later, the Yok See School and its affiliated kindergarten on Prinsep Street were relocated to its new campus in Newton. In October 1962, the English Service congregation, constituted as Life Bible-Presbyterian Church in 1955,[3] moved to Gilstead Road in Newton.[4]

In 1969, the church’s session court decided to rebuild the 40-year-old church on Prinsep Street. On 30 March 1975, the foundation stone for the new building was laid by Rev. Stephen C.K. Tan, the Moderator of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore. In December 1975, the church building was completed and renamed as Singapore Life Church. It was dedicated by Rev. Paul Hsiu, Moderator of the Synod on 29 May 1977.

## Architecture

[edit]

The church's façade comprises three sections of perforated panels which are “sewn” together by external staircases which culminate in a large Cross

The church underwent a third rebuilding in 2010. Designed by Laud Architects, the notable features of the church are its monolithic roof and aluminium filigree façade.[5]

The façade is made up of three sections of perforated panels which are “sewn” together by black external staircases which culminate in a large Cross.[6]

Overall, the seven-storey structure is arranged as a three-storey podium topped with a four-storey block above. The car park, located on the first floor, is enclosed within aluminium T-profiled louvres, screening the activity within and providing ‘uplift’ to the floors above.[7]

At night, the church is illuminated from within and shafts of light are emitted through these small breaks in the façade and a glass expanse in the centre.

Internally, the building offers two key volumes and a number of breakout spaces such as prayer rooms and communal gathering areas. There is also a main sanctuary and a smaller chapel within the complex.

During the construction stage, reinforced concrete structures were used with post-tensioned beams to create column-free spaces within the building.[7]

The construction of the church’s third rebuilding was completed in 2012. The first Sunday services were held on 1 July 2012.

## See also

[edit]

* Bible portal
* Christianity portal

* Presbyterian Church in Singapore
* Life Bible-Presbyterian Church
* Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church
* Christianity in Singapore

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "主页". www.lifechurch.org.sg.
2. ^ "The Presbyterian Church in Singapore". Retrieved 30 April 2020.
3. ^ Timothy Tow (1995). The Singapore B-P Church Story (PDF). Life Book Centre, pp. 73-74. ISBN 981-00-7057-8. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
4. ^ "The Bible-Presbyterian Church of Singapore and Malaysia 1950-1971" (PDF). The Bible-Presbyterian Church of Singapore and Malaysia 1950-1971. The Bible-Presbyterian Church of Singapore and Malaysia: 32. 1971. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
5. ^ "LAUD Awards (SIA Architectural Design Awards, 2013 Honourable Mention)". www.laudarchitects.com. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
6. ^ "Singapore Life Church". Retrieved 15 July 2018.
7. ^ a b "LAUD Architects replace 1970s modernist building with perforated aluminium form for Singapore Life Church". Retrieved 15 July 2018.

## Further reading

[edit]

* National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3
* Norman Edwards, Peter Keys (1996), Singapore – A Guide to Buildings, Streets, Places, Times Books International, ISBN 9971-65-231-5

## External links

[edit]

* Singapore Life Church website
* Presbyterian Church in Singapore website
* The Presbyterian Church in Singapore 130 Years www.YouTube.com

* v
* t
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Christianity in Singapore

Catholic Church|

* Catholic Church in Singapore
* Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
* Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea
* Church of St Francis Xavier
* Saint Joseph's Church, Bukit Timah
* Saint Joseph's Church, Victoria Street (Parochial House)
* Church of Saint Alphonsus (Novena Church)
* Church of the Holy Trinity
* Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
* Church of St Mary of the Angels
* Church of the Risen Christ
* Church of the Sacred Heart

Protestantism|

| Megachurches|

* City Harvest Church
* New Creation Church
* Faith Community Baptist Church
* Lighthouse Evangelism

|

Anglican|

* Anglican Diocese of Singapore
* St Andrew's Cathedral
* St Matthew's Church
* Saint George's Church
* Holy Trinity Anglican Church
* Church of Our Saviour

Assemblies of God|

* Elim Church
* Grace Assembly of God

Baptist|

* Singapore Baptist Convention

Bible-Presbyterian|

* Bible-Presbyterian Church
* Life Bible-Presbyterian Church

Evangelical Free|

* Covenant Evangelical Free Church

Independent|

* Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church
* Cornerstone Community Church
* Heart of God Church

Lutheran|

* Lutheran Church in Singapore

Methodist|

* Methodist Church in Singapore
* Wesley Methodist Church
* Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church
* Faith Methodist Church
* Kampong Kapor Methodist Church
* Barker Road Methodist Church

Pentecostal|

* The Alliance of Pentecostals and Charismatics
* The Assemblies of God in Singapore

Presbyterian|

* Presbyterian Church in Singapore
* Singapore Life Church
* Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church
* Bethel Presbyterian Church
* Orchard Road Presbyterian Church

Oriental Orthodox|

* Singapore Armenian Church

Eastern Orthodox|

| (Ecumenical Patriarchate-affiliated)|

* Ecumenical Patriarchate Diocese of Singapore

|

(Moscow Patriarchate-affiliated)|

* Moscow Patriarchate Diocese of Singapore

Interdenominational
organisations|

* Evangelical Alliance of Singapore

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