The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (formerly Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar), India, has had a relatively long presence in Singapore. The first Syrian Christians arrived in Singapore in 1912 and an organized church congregation first gathered in 1936. For ten years afterwards, worship services were conducted in the Armenian Church in Hill Street. In 1947, the Mar Thoma Syrian Community in Singapore decided to find a permanent place of worship. They bought a plot of land along a reserve road off St Michael’s Road. The site was then completely undeveloped, without any access road and amidst rural surroundings. The construction of the church building on the site was completed in 1952. The Mar Thoma Syrian community worshipped here for close to 40 years.
As the community also placed great emphasis on education, they purchased a piece of land in 1954 in the same vicinity to start an English Secondary school for over-aged and under privileged students in Singapore. At that time, there was a pressing need for the establishment of schools in Singapore to cater to the educational needs of the local populace. With a view to help meet these needs, the community established a private school, the St Thomas Secondary School in 1955. With the establishment of a Mar Thoma Syrian Church and a Mar Thoma Church educational institution along the reserve road off St Michael’s Road, the then Municipal Council appropriately named this reserve road as the “Mar Thoma Road”. The school became a government aided school in 1972/73 and was relocated to larger premises in Telok Blangah in 1982.
Trustees were established under Singapore law as a body corporate known as the “Registered Trustees for Singapore, Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, Diocese of Malaysia and Singapore” on 6th August 1969. On 7 December 1983, approval was obtained from the Metropolitan to establish the Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Singapore with its own constitution modelled on the parent constitution of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar. Permission was also granted by the Metropolitan to proceed with the incorporation of Trustees for the church in Singapore and for registration as a charity under the Charities Act, 1982. The Mar Thoma Church in Singapore and the Mar Thoma Churches in Malaysia functioned and were administered as separate and independent entities with effect from ~ January 1984.
The Registered Trustees for the Mar Thoma Church in Singapore were established as a body corporate on 30th November 1984. On 15th April 1986, the Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Singapore was registered as a charity under the Charities Act, 1982.
In 1991 the church building and premises located at 25 Mar Thoma Road were compulsorily acquired to make way for road development. The Mar Thoma Syrian community in Singapore then continued their worship at a chapel they built for the St Thomas Secondary School within the school’s premises. The school however was closed at the end of 2000 and with the closure, the community was once again, without a place of worship.
The community mobilized itself once again and began planning to construct a new Church building. By the grace of God, a new plot was purchased at 29 Jalan Keli and a new church building was completed in 2004. With the completion of our new church building and premises at 29 Jalan Keli, we hope to continue to play a meaningful and useful role in the society we live in, whilst preserving our unique heritage and culture.
The Church has been active in the Christian ministry in Singapore and is a founder member of the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS).
The Path ahead for the Singapore Congregation
On July 18th 2011, the Singapore Parish celebrated its 75th Anniversary. In conjunction with the anniversary the Church had decided to revitalize its focus on Mission Work. In addition to the celebrations around the event, the Church had decided to give Education grants for students in Singapore and India, expand food aid program, medical ministry, etc.
The Church with its Ecumenical outlook and participation in the NCCS is keen to support and involve itself in promoting unity among Christian churches. In a multi-national, multi-religious society the Mar Thoma Syrian Church encourages all efforts in promoting tolerance among religions through greater cooperation and improved understanding.
Year 2012 to 2016 (76th to 80th year)
Our parish was enriched by the leadership of new Vicars, Rev Shibu P Varghese & Rev John G Mathews during this 5 year period. In her mission to witness the Triune God, the parish took a few steps during the period 2012-2016 through our ministry involving Translation. Order of Worship (OoW) for the 11 services of Passion Week (from Palm Sunday to Easter) were fully translated from Malayalam into English by March 2012. They were printed as a book in 2 volumes with the approval of the Liturgy Commission of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (MMTSC). Also in 2012, the Dedication of the Christian Family (used during Family Dedication Sunday held in Oct each year) was published. In 2015, the English Order of Worship for Public Service (used in Sunday morning worship services) and the OoW for the 40 days of the Great Lent were published.
In 2013 Edavaka Mission was formally reactivated. Senior Citizens Fellowship was also reactivated in Oct 2015, after a dormant period. The YYAR (Youth and Young Adults Retreat) for the youths was held for the first time, 6-8 Feb 2016 at Salvation Army’s Praise Haven Retreat Centre. In 2014 the MTYF conducted a Mission and Awareness trip, visiting places of historical importance in Kerala, India, for the growth of MMTSC. Under the guidance of the Vicar, 9 youths and an adult also visited the Metropolitan, Valiya Metropolitan and Diocesan Bishop for bonding and fellowship.
Mrs Rachel Roy became the first woman to represent the parish at the Sabha Prathinidhi Mandalam, from 2014-2016.
In the year 2015 the parish grieved the loss of our bishop Rt Rev Dr Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan who was called to eternal rest on 27 Dec 2015. The parish continued to remember His Lordship’s musical legacy with the Parish Choir organizing the Zacharias Mar Theophilus Memorial Musical Evening – the first of which was held in 2017 with Rev Sajan Mathew leading the session,
Various programs initiated to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the parish were held from March 2016 to Feb 2017. The programs created a vibrant fellowship among the parishioners and also helped to reach the unreached through mission initiatives. As an initiative of 80th anniversary of the parish a mission field in the western region of India was adopted, to support their needs. An expansive history of the Parish for the previous 80+ years was captured as a “History Book” titled “The Journey in God’s Green Pastures – Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Singapore : 1936-2016”. This was released by the then Deputy Prime Minister (and later the 9th President of the Republic of Singapore)in a gala dinner to mark the 80 years of the parish.
Year 2017 to 2021 (81st to 85th)
The new vicars of the church parish during these 5 years were Rev Dr Alex Thomas and Rev Gino S Philip. The parishioners heartily wished Alex Achen as he celebrated his Sashtipoorthi (60th birthday) on 28 Mar 2020.
In 2017 the first parish photo directory was published for easy access and for the benefit of the senior members.
In November 2013 a subcommittee was appointed to study the feasibility of extending usable floor space of the Church building at level 4, and the usage of available space. In March 2017, written permission was granted by relevant government bodies for the construction of an Attic at level 4 of the Church building. It was to serve among others, as a dedicated space for fellowship and spiritual nurture for the youths of the parish. The construction was completed and the Attic dedicated by the Metropolitan in April 2018.
From January 2017 to November 2019, Ms Rency Rajan, fully supported financially by the parish’s Mission Board, worked for Methodist Mission Society as a missionary in Timor Leste.
Besides providing about 40 annual instances of financial aid to various organisations / individuals, 20 girls were also provided financial aid to meet their wedding expenses.
In 2018 three more OoW were translated into English and published – Dominical Feasts, Wakes & Funerals and for Parish Day Thanksgiving service.
In this period the parish lamented the loss of our Metropolitans His Grace the Most Rev Dr Joseph Mar Thoma and His Grace the Most Rev Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom, who were called to eternal rest on 18 Oct 2020 and 05 May 2021, respectively. Rt Rev Dr Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Suffragan Metropolitan took charge as Most Rev Theodosius Mar Thoma in October 2020.
The Covid pandemic that affected the whole world gave a well deserved pause to all the parish activities. It was a time like no other, allowing each parishioner to experience the awesome protection of God upon His children. The parishioners gracefully overcame the pandemic fear through appropriate and measured responses following the guidelines issued by the relevant authorities. Starting from 24 Feb 2020 with a call for prayer till Dec 2022 the parish was in a cautious alert mode. Some vestiges of covid continue to reflect in our worship even today – especially the manner in which the Holy Elements are disbursed, the livestreaming of worship and wearing of masks to protect oneself or the others from contagious illnesses.
Year 2022 to 2026 (86th to 90th)
The new vicar for the parish during this period was Rev Raj Elias Varghese.
By the grace of God, the Constitution of the parish was updated in 2023.
The 90th anniversary celebrations (90AC) were inaugurated by our Diocesan Bishop in July 2025 and this kickstarted the various programmes involving Tree Plantation, Migrant Worker & Ecumenical Cricket, St Thomas Secondary School Legacy Dinner, Mission support including financial support to a seminary student as well as to specially abled children in Singapore.
The parish continues its various internal and external mission activities relevant to the community in Singapore as well as in India in this 90th year as well.
May God Almighty continue to lead this parish built 90 years ago with the first diaspora Marthomites, to be Lighted to Lighten in the spaces we are planted in.
We continue to pray for God’s guidance and His Grace as we look forward to the next and future milestones.
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