The Orchard Road Presbyterian Church (ORPC; Chinese: 烏節路長老會教堂), also known as Greja Kechil ("small church" in Malay) and the Scotch Church, is a Presbyterian church in Singapore. The church was completed in 1878, and it is the oldest Presbyterian church in Singapore.[1] The church was founded to serve the Scottish community in Singapore, but now caters to a congregation of a widely different background and holds services in a number of different languages.[2][3]
The church originated from the congregation of the Mission Chapel of Singapore which included members of the Scottish community of early Singapore. In 1822, its Scottish members held a meeting with the aim of setting up a local Presbyterian church, however, the first service was not held until 6 October 1856 with the arrival of Rev Thomas McKenzie Fraser to Singapore.[4] The earliest service was held at the London Missionary Society's chapel on Bras Basah Road,[5] later services were also held at the St Andrew's Church.[6] In 1875, a piece of land on Orchard Road was allocated by the Governor of Singapore for the construction of the church, and the foundation stone for the church was laid by Colonel Anson on 1 August 1877.[1] The building was completed in 1878 at a cost of $20,000.[4]
The building has been extended over the years. In 1921, the Tomlinson Hall was added as a side-extension, but this was later demolished in 2002. A Sunday School was added in 1953, and other parts of the church extended – the church hall in 1954, and the sanctuary in 1975. The Dunman Hall was added in 1985.[1]
A branch of the church was established in Bukit Batok that became independent in 2013, and an independent church was also established in 2005 for its Chinese congregation, the Providence Presbyterian Church.[5]
Architectureedit
Interior of the church
The building is single storey structure with tiled pitched roofs, with a Palladian-styled facade facing Orchard Road.[1] The dominant feature of the facade is the Serlian motif (also called a Palladian window) – a central arched opening flanked by openings on either side with flat entablatures. The motif forms the porch which is supported by double Ionic columns, and a smaller version with single columns is repeated above the porch. The front facade has finials at the four corners of the tower,[1] and it is topped by a cupola supported by columns.[6]
Pipe organedit
The church has one of the few working pipe organs in Singapore.[7] The first organ was installed in 1861, and the current one is the third to be constructed in the church. This organ was built in 1962 by J. W. Walker & Sons based on the 1926 two-manual and pedal-tracker organ by William Hill & Sons/Norman and Beard. Its action was electrified in 1987.[8]
Servicesedit
The church originally catered to the Scottish community in Singapore and services were conducted in English. Later services in other languages were also offered to members of different communities, with the first Mandarin Chinese service given on Easter Sunday 1968.[5] Currently the church also offers services in Indonesian and German.[3]
^ abJane Beamish; Jane Ferguson (1 December 1985). A History of Singapore Architecture: The Making of a City. Graham Brash (Pte.) Ltd. pp. 51–53. ISBN978-9971947972.
^"A closer look at Singapore's pipe organs, The Straits Times, 8 October 2002". p. 9.
^"Orchard Road Presbyterian Church Chancel Organ". Singaporeago.org.
Norman Edwards, Peter Keys (1996), Singapore - A Guide to Buildings, Streets, Places, Times Books International, ISBN9971-65-231-5
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orchard Road Presbyterian Church.
Orchard Road Presbyterian Church
December 21, 2023
orchard, road, presbyterian, church, orpc, chinese, 烏節路長老會教堂, also, known, greja, kechil, small, church, malay, scotch, church, presbyterian, church, singapore, church, completed, 1878, oldest, presbyterian, church, singapore, church, founded, serve, scottish,. The Orchard Road Presbyterian Church ORPC Chinese 烏節路長老會教堂 also known as Greja Kechil small church in Malay and the Scotch Church is a Presbyterian church in Singapore The church was completed in 1878 and it is the oldest Presbyterian church in Singapore 1 The church was founded to serve the Scottish community in Singapore but now caters to a congregation of a widely different background and holds services in a number of different languages 2 3 Orchard Road Presbyterian ChurchOrchard Road Presbyterian Church1 17 52 9 N 103 50 50 9 E 1 298028 N 103 847472 E 1 298028 103 847472Location3 Orchard Road Singapore 238825CountrySingaporeDenominationPresbyterianArchitectureFunctional statusActiveStylePalladian Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Pipe organ 4 Services 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe church originated from the congregation of the Mission Chapel of Singapore which included members of the Scottish community of early Singapore In 1822 its Scottish members held a meeting with the aim of setting up a local Presbyterian church however the first service was not held until 6 October 1856 with the arrival of Rev Thomas McKenzie Fraser to Singapore 4 The earliest service was held at the London Missionary Society s chapel on Bras Basah Road 5 later services were also held at the St Andrew s Church 6 In 1875 a piece of land on Orchard Road was allocated by the Governor of Singapore for the construction of the church and the foundation stone for the church was laid by Colonel Anson on 1 August 1877 1 The building was completed in 1878 at a cost of 20 000 4 The building has been extended over the years In 1921 the Tomlinson Hall was added as a side extension but this was later demolished in 2002 A Sunday School was added in 1953 and other parts of the church extended the church hall in 1954 and the sanctuary in 1975 The Dunman Hall was added in 1985 1 A branch of the church was established in Bukit Batok that became independent in 2013 and an independent church was also established in 2005 for its Chinese congregation the Providence Presbyterian Church 5 Architecture edit nbsp Interior of the churchThe building is single storey structure with tiled pitched roofs with a Palladian styled facade facing Orchard Road 1 The dominant feature of the facade is the Serlian motif also called a Palladian window a central arched opening flanked by openings on either side with flat entablatures The motif forms the porch which is supported by double Ionic columns and a smaller version with single columns is repeated above the porch The front facade has finials at the four corners of the tower 1 and it is topped by a cupola supported by columns 6 Pipe organ editThe church has one of the few working pipe organs in Singapore 7 The first organ was installed in 1861 and the current one is the third to be constructed in the church This organ was built in 1962 by J W Walker amp Sons based on the 1926 two manual and pedal tracker organ by William Hill amp Sons Norman and Beard Its action was electrified in 1987 8 Services editThe church originally catered to the Scottish community in Singapore and services were conducted in English Later services in other languages were also offered to members of different communities with the first Mandarin Chinese service given on Easter Sunday 1968 5 Currently the church also offers services in Indonesian and German 3 See also editPresbyterian Church in SingaporeReferences edit a b c d e Wan Meng Hao 14 May 2014 Heritage Places of Singapore Cavendish Square Publishing p 134 ISBN 9789814312950 Down Orchard Way The Straits Times 24 December 1988 p 18 a b English Congregation Orchard Road Presbyterian Church a b Orchard Road Presbyterian Church Singapore Infopedia a b c History Orchard Road Presbyterian Church a b Jane Beamish Jane Ferguson 1 December 1985 A History of Singapore Architecture The Making of a City Graham Brash Pte Ltd pp 51 53 ISBN 978 9971947972 A closer look at Singapore s pipe organs The Straits Times 8 October 2002 p 9 Orchard Road Presbyterian Church Chancel Organ Singaporeago org Norman Edwards Peter Keys 1996 Singapore A Guide to Buildings Streets Places Times Books International ISBN 9971 65 231 5External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orchard Road Presbyterian Church Orchard Road Presbyterian Church Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Orchard Road Presbyterian Church amp oldid 1149508602, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
