A national monument and the city’s largest cathedral, the St. Andrew’s Cathedral that now stands in civic district of Singapore, has a long history and is actually the latest (and oldest) iteration of the structure. Sir Stamford Raffles chose the site for the church in 1823 and the foundation stone was laid in 1934. Funded by Scottish merchants, the church was given the name of the patron saint of Scotland and is the oldest Anglican house of worship in Singapore. After the original church was struck by lightning—twice—it was deemed unsafe and closed in 1852. The church was rebuilt and consecrated in 1862. During World War II, the church was utilized as an emergency hospital during air raids; it was deemed a national monument in 1973.
It’s easy to spot St. Andrew’s in the midst of the sleek glass buildings that dominate the business district of Singapore. Pristinely white, the exterior of the building gleams in the hot Singapore sun; the interior is blessedly cool and the various historic plaques and beautiful stained glass windows will attract your attention. Grab a pamphlet from the entryway for a self-guided tour, or join one of the free guided tours that take place twice daily.
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