100 Years of His Glory, His Name, His Honour

A Glimpse into our Diocesan History: The Diocese of Singapore

The history of the Anglican church in Singapore has been intrinsically linked with that of our nation. The early church was set up to minister to the growing expatriate community in thriving Singapore.

In 1909, the new Diocese of Singapore and Malaya was created, 83 years after the beginning of the official Anglican Church in Singapore. Rt Revd Charles James Ferguson-Davie became the first bishop. He had been serving as Chaplain of Lahore (then part of India).

Rt Revd Chiu Ban It was the first Asian born and the sixth bishop. Our seventh Bishop, Rt Revd Dr Moses Tay, was the first Archbishop of the Province of South-East Asia which was formed in 1996. The Most Revd Dr John Chew is the eighth, and first Chinese-educated bishop of Singapore and the third Archbishop of the Province of South-East Asia.

The first Anglican Schools

The first Anglican schools established were St Andrew’s and St Margaret’s. Maria Dyer founded a girls’ school in 1842 to rescue local girls from slavery. Sophia Cooke, a British missionary, arrived in 1853 and stayed for 42 years, taking charge of the school with 20 pupils. In 1949, it became a Diocesan institution and was named St Margaret’s. In the 1850s, the precursor of St Andrew’s School, a private school run by two Anglican catechists, Mr Sim Que and Mr Tye Kim was set up. It was acquired in 1862 by St Andrew’s Church Mission and renamed St Andrew’s Mission School.


Today, there are 6 kindergartens, 3 primary and 5 secondary schools and one junior college. St Andrew’s Village (2006) is an educational hub; home to Ascension Kindergarten, St Andrew’s Junior School, St. Andrew’s School and St Andrew’s Junior College – One Family Unbroken.