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Divine Designs: Top Churches in Singapore
- St. Andrew’s Cathedral
- Church of St. Teresa
- Novena Church, Church of St. Alphonsus
- Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
- Our Lady of Lourdes Church
- Armenian Apostolic Church of Gregory the Illuminator
- Church of the Blessed Sacrament
- Church of Saints Peter and Paul
- St. Joseph’s Church
- Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Church of the Sacred Heart
For a country so culturally diverse, it’s not surprising that Singapore is home to many places of worship. In almost every district, you find a mosque, a temple, and a church all within walking distance from each other.
Some of these religious sites are national monuments and landmarks, with Christian and Catholic churches revered for their noteworthy architecture and historical importance.
You don’t need to be a devout follower to explore these architectural wonders. If you have some extra time to spare or simply fancy attending a service, don’t overlook these top churches in Singapore!
St. Andrew’s Cathedral
Address: 11 St Andrew’s Rd, Singapore 178959
Contact Details: +6563376104
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:30 pm, Sunday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm
St. Andrew’s Cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches in Singapore, owing to its magnificent Neo-Gothic architecture dating back to the 19th century. It’s the oldest and biggest Anglican church in the city and houses the Anglican Diocese of Singapore.
The church’s most noteworthy features include its tall spire, stained glass windows, and white walls. Visitors can visit the cathedral grounds and explore the landscape, and they’re highly encouraged to attend services when available.
| Pro Tip: St. Andrew’s Cathedral usually gets conservation works done now and then, and to make sure you don’t visit the cathedral when it’s under renovation, tune in to the website’s announcements here. |
Church of St. Teresa
Address: 510 Kampong Bahru Rd, Singapore 099446
Contact Details: +6562711184
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Known to locals as the first rural church in Singapore, the Church of St. Teresa mainly serves the Roman Catholic Hokkien community and has been an important structure for Chinese Christian minorities.
The church’s likeness to Paris’ Basilica of the Sacred Heart and bronze bells are the main structural focal points, as it’s the only structure in the country built in Romano-Byzantine style.
It has been declared a National Monument since 2009, opening its doors to locals and tourists for worship or tours.
| Pro Tip: Non-Catholic visitors are not allowed to enter the church if there is an ongoing mass. Mass hours start at 6:00 pm on weekdays and 5:30 pm on Saturdays. It’s best to pay a visit to the church for tours on weekday mornings and afternoons. |
Novena Church, Church of St. Alphonsus
Address: 300 Thomson Rd, Singapore 307653
Contact Details: +6562552133
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Saturday, 7:30 am to 7:00 pm, Sunday, 8:30 am to 7:00 pm
Another Neo-Gothic church in the city is the Church of St. Alphonsus. Although built much later (in the 1950s, to be exact), the church stands as one of the prime examples of Gothic revival architecture in Singapore.
Aside from marvelling at its structure and design, locals flock to the church every Saturday for its novenas or devotions. It may look small from the outside, but the interiors are well celebrated, especially the colourful stained windows and arches.
| Pro Tip: You have to climb some stairs to reach the main entrance. If you need wheelchair assistance, there is a lift to the side of the church. |
Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
Address: A Queen St, Singapore 188533
Contact Details: +6563372036
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 am to 12:00 am
If you’ve just finished a tour around Fort Canning Park or the National Museum of Singapore, take a slight detour along Victoria Street and visit the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
The cathedral is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore and currently seats the Archbishop of Singapore. Many people have described it to be similar to St. Paul’s Church in London, owing to its Renaissance Revival architecture.
| Pro Tip: There’s a heritage gallery of the cathedral located on the first floor of its annexe building. Tours are only available every first Saturday of the month, with sign-ups required through this form. |
Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Address: 50 Ophir Rd, Singapore 188690
Contact Details: +6562940624
Our Lady of Lourdes Church is the first Tamil Catholic church on the island, serving the Tamil-speaking communities of Little India since the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, many locals consider the church an important symbol of inclusivity, especially with Little India’s predominantly Hindu minority. Both locals and tourists flock to the church for its services and for peaceful strolls during non-mass hours.
Built in the Neo-Gothic style, the church stands with a tall spire and white stone facade––two noteworthy features that resemble its French namesake.
| Pro Tip: Parts of the church are under renovation as of the time of writing, so parking within church grounds is not allowed. There are car parks along Queen’s Street and Arab Street, however, which are only a stone’s throw away from the church. |
Armenian Apostolic Church of Gregory the Illuminator
Address: 60 Hill St, Singapore 179366
Contact Details: +6563372036
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
The Armenian Apostolic Church of Gregory the Illuminator, fondly called the Armenian Church by locals, draws many visitors’ attention due to its creation by George Coleman, the famed Irish architect who constructed much of colonial Singapore’s infrastructure.
The church’s design is likened to traditional Armenian architecture, with its tall spire, vaulted ceilings, and column-clad facade as notable features.
People come to take pictures of this magnificent structure, and because of its historicity, has become a popular tourist spot as well.
| Pro Tip: The Armenian Heritage Gallery is open for visitors daily but is operated on an appointment basis only. You can email the centre for private tours here, with at least a week’s notice. |
Church of the Blessed Sacrament
Address: 1 Commonwealth Dr, Singapore 149603
Contact Details: +6564740582
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Not all churches are clad in white and intricate ornaments, and the Church of the Blessed Sacrament stands as one of the most uniquely designed churches in Singapore.
Its unique blue roof and the cruciform design of the sanctuary, allowing natural light through glass windows, are considered architecturally genius by many conservationists, leading to the church’s conservation status being sanctioned in 2005.
It’s a worthy stop in your travel itinerary, especially if you’re on the hunt for Singapore’s architectural gems.
| Pro Tip: Parking at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament is currently closed, but visitors can park their cars at the car parks located at 34 Tanglin Halt Road, 55 Commonwealth Drive, and 37B Commonwealth Drive. |
Church of Saints Peter and Paul
Address: 225A Queen St, Singapore 188551
Contact Details: +6563372585
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 9:00 pm
Built in 1870, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul has been an important place of worship for Chinese and Indian Catholic communities in Bugis. It became a National Monument in 2003 and was chosen as a venue for the Singapore Biennale in 2006.
The church boasts an expansive and vaulted interior adorned with stained-glass windows and iron lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The interiors give off a romantic vibe, making the church a popular wedding venue for many locals.
| Pro Tip: As the church sits near the Bras Basah MRT, it’s best to come by via public transit instead of car due to the lack of parking slots nearby. |
St. Joseph’s Church
– From nhb_sg
Address: 143 Victoria St, Singapore 188020
Contact Details: +6563383167
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
St. Joseph’s Church was built in the mid-19th century by Portuguese missionaries, with an aim to bring Roman Catholics in Singapore and its European inhabitants together in a place of worship.
Designed in a Neo-Gothic style and structured as a cross, the church features a central belfry tower flanked by two smaller towers. It also boasts one of the nation’s largest collections of religious stained glass windows.
Today, the church is fondly nicknamed the “Eurasian Church”, but despite its name, the church pays tribute to several Portuguese religious celebrations such as the Our Lady of Fatima devotion.
| Pro Tip: St. Joseph’s Church is one of—if not the only Catholic church in Singapore that conducts services in full Latin. If you wish to participate in this unique service, drop by on a Sunday at around 3:00 pm. |
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Address: 1259 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534795
Contact Details: +6562800980
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 6:00 am to 6:30 pm, Saturday, 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, Sunday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Also known as the Nativity Church, the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the only Catholic church in Singapore that conducts masses in Korean.
Clad in white walls, stained glass, and a tall spire, the church stands out in the vibrant district of Hougang. It was once built to serve the Teochew community in the area but has since offered masses in English and Mandarin as well.
It’s hard not to miss out on this beautiful church, especially when its spire competes with the skyscrapers on the horizon!
| Pro Tip: The church sits on a corner of an intersection at Hougang Avenue and Upper Serangoon Road. If you’re dropping by via public transit, alight from Hougang MRT station then take buses 112, 119, or 74 to get to the church. |
Church of the Sacred Heart
Address: 1111 Tank Rd, Singapore 238069
Contact Details: +6567379285
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:30 am to 6:30 pm
For fans of French Baroque architecture, the Church of the Sacred Heart is a site to see. The church was an important building to many Singaporean Catholics, especially since it housed the Vatican Embassy and the Apostolic Nuncio.
Besides being used by the Vatican, the church exemplifies French Baroque architecture, showcased in its white marble altars and meticulously carved life-sized sculptures of St. Joseph and Our Lady of Lourdes by French stonemasons.
| Pro Tip: There used to be an entrance from Jalan Rumbia, but it has since been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can enter the church from Tank Road after alighting from the Fort Canning MRT Station. |
