The Methodist Church in Singapore celebrates 140 years of growth, outreach and partnerships

It was a night where those present looked back at the past with thanksgiving even as they set their sights resolutely on the future. 

Nearly 800 gathered last Friday (September 19) at Paya Lebar Methodist Church to celebrate 140 years of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). Among them were some 120 clergy – Bishops and Pastors of MCS in active service as well as retired – and Bishops and Presidents of The Methodist Church in various parts of Asia and Australia.

Nearly 800 gathered at Paya Lebar Methodist Church to celebrate 140 years of The Methodist Church in Singapore.

The heads of the different major Protestant denominations in Singapore, the 4th Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore Cardinal William Goh, principals of the Methodist schools, and representatives from The Bible Society of Singapore and the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) were also in attendance.

(Front row, third from left) Bishop Philip Lim with clergy guests from Singapore and other parts of the world, as well as guests from various denominations and organisations.

The guestlist reflected the friendships and partnerships MCS has fostered throughout its 140-year history.

Bonds forged in the past 

What started with two men – Bishop Dr James Thorburn and Rev William Oldham who constituted the first Methodist church in Singapore in 1885 – has grown to include 46 churches and several preaching points with 46,000 members, 15 schools, 20 social service centres, and mission work in seven countries. Today, MCS is the largest Protestant denomination in Singapore.

(Left to right) General Conference Secretary Jeffrey Lim and Chairperson of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) Board of Laity Dr Benjamin Leong leading the processional of Pastors into the sanctaury.

In those 140 years, the Methodists in the country developed firmed friendships with other Christians. Rev Ezekiel Tan, General Secretary of The Bible Society of Singapore, noted that MCS and the 202-year-old mission agency have long had strong ties with each other.

Rev Ezekiel Tan, General Secretary of  The Bible Society of Singapore.

“I was deeply moved when I realised last year, during the discovery of the time capsule buried in Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church [100 years ago], that there was a Bible gifted from the leadership of The Bible Society to the Methodist Church, which goes to show that our friendship and partnership go back more than 100 years.

“And this year, we are again honoured to give a Bible for the time capsule of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church for their 100th anniversary [of the church building].”

MCS also partnered other denomination. Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, General Secretary of NCCS observed that MCS is a founder member, together with four other nominations, of NCCS. 

Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Singapore.

Cardinal Goh shared a little-known fact about the relationship between the Methodists and the Roman Catholics in Singapore.

His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore.

“I am one of the beneficiaries of Methodist church missions in Singapore because I was a student under Dr Gwee and Dr Kang Ho Soon when I was doing Clinical Pastoral Care 40 years ago as a young priest.”

MCS’ reach goes beyond Singapore. Said Rev Lun Sophy, President of The Methodist Church in Cambodia: “I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for the contributions to the formation of the Methodist Church in Cambodia.

Rev Lun Sophy, President of The Methodist Church in Cambodia.

“Through the prayers and missions work of the Methodist Churh in Singapore, and by the grace of God, the Methodist Church in Cambodia was birthed forth 25 years ago.”

Moving forward in the future

Reminding the guests at the celebration service to “remember our history” and also to “consider how to move forward”, Bishop Philip Lim shared his reflections on Hebrews 12:1-3.

Rev Philip Lim, Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore, preaching from the book of Hebrews.

“Our Scripture uses the metaphor of a relay race to describe our Christian life. We have a goal, that is, to complete the race marked out for us in order to win the prize.

“To do that we are to run with endurance, to lay aside the things that will get in the way.” 

He mapped out three ways MCS can forge ahead.

1. Be inspired by the great cloud of witnesses

Hebrews 12:1 talks about the “great cloud of witnesses”, a reference to the men and women listed in Hebrews 11 who had “endured and displayed great faith”.

The Methodists in Singapore, said Bishop Lim, also have men and women who have gone before them, paving the way with great faith.

“Missionaries like the Rev James Thorburn who arrived in Singapore in 1885. And with him was the Rev William Oldham.

“Then we have Ms Sophia Blackmore who started Methodist Girls’ School, as well as Fairfield School. We also have Dr Benjamin West who founded Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. By the way, he had a clinic reaching out to those suffering from opium addiction in the Chinatown area.

“And there are many others who played their part in sowing the seed of the Gospel in this land. We have the Rev Goh Hood Keng, who started as a supply Pastor and later went on to become the first Peranakan to be ordained a Methodist minister 1919.

The great cloud of witnesses who contributed their love and labour to establish MCS. (Top row) Bishop James Thorburn, Rev William Oldham and Sophia Blackmore. (Bottom row) Dr Benjamin West, William Shellabear and Rev Goh Hood Keng.

“These people got on with the work of missions and evangelism, and planted preaching points. Congregations were formed and people met in whatever places that were available. They met in huts, in shophouses, in five-foot ways, in school halls, or open spaces.

The Methodists in Singapore across history.

“Early missionaries were going from door to door sharing the Gospel with people and inviting the people to come to church.”

2. Keep running with perseverance

This “great cloud of witnesses” – Pastors, leaders and faithful members of the church – have completed their part of the race.

“The baton is now passed to the next runner. Hence, Hebrews 12 calls us to keep on running.”

The race, Bishop Lim explained, is a relay.

As he looked back 140 years of MCS, Bishop Lim also urged the Methodists to set their sights on the future.

“And so the writer of Hebrews is urging the church, the current runners, to keep on running with endurance and perseverance.

“If those before us had given their best and done their part, then we are called now to do the same. You can say we have a responsibility to carry on the good legacy that was left behind by them.”

Another reason to “run with perseverance” is that the relay race is complete only when the last runner has finished the course. In Hebrews 11:39-40, we are told that the faithful did not receive what had been promised to them because “God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect”.

“Let me highlight the words ‘apart from us’, meaning the final outcome of the race rests on the current and subsequent runners that come after.

“In a relay race, everybody has a part to play, and everybody is expected to give their best. All you need is for just one person to slow down or to go off the lane – it will severely affect the results of the race.”

That inter-relatedness of believers past, present and future was what the writer of Hebrews wanted to emphasise.

“We have been around for the last 140 years. In the coming years, we are all the more determined to be the Church of Jesus Christ. For us to do that, Hebrews 12:3 says we must ‘not grow weary and lose heart’.”

This, despite developments that can be troubling. Bishop Lim drew attention to the State of the Church Report, a report Trinity Theological College (TTC), together with other agencies, produces every year. In 2023, the report revealed trends among young adults aged 19 to 35.

“The worrying trend is that our young people are becoming more and more disinterested in the faith of their parents in the church,” he said.

There are, however, some encouraging trends. Firstly, those who do not go to church are now joining churches for the first time.

“It tells us that God is still at work moving the hearts of people.”

Next, the churches that are growing are those who have an “expository style of preaching”.

Continued Bishop Lim: “It means that people are looking for churches that faithfully preach and explain the Word of God.”

Stating that MCS takes the findings seriously, Bishop Lim revelaed that MCS will soon launch a series of podcasts called Cross Chat. Topics such as “Who am I”, “Is God for real?”, “Why is Dating So Hard?” will be discussed.

“I think in this episode you will get to hear how our three Presidents (of the Annual Conference) met their wives. I am looking forward to that, are you?”

Of the decision to produce podcasts, Bishop Lim explained: “Video podcasts are now very popular among the younger generation, especially the teens, to even (those in their) 40s.

“In the podcasts, people share genuinely and are vulnerable. Young people today want authenticity.”

3. Worship with awe and reverence 

Finally, Bishop Lim explained what it means to “run the race for us as a church”. 

(Left to right) The Presidents of the three Annual Conferences of MCS: Rev Reuben Ng of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC), Rev Saravana Kumar of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) and Rev Lek Yong Teck of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC).

“Hebrews 12: 28 says, ‘Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.’

“Earlier the writer had already mentioned in Hebrews 10:25, ‘Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’

“This is referring to the gathering of God’s people for worship. But beyond our worship services, we need to look at our lives as worship and service.”

Bishop Lim outlined several opportunites for the Methodists to offer their services. 

“You see there are many opportunities for us to step forward in service. We have our nursing homes and we need volunteers to befriend the residents.

“Did you know that our MWS (Methodist Welfare Services) has produced a befriender’s tool kit to train volunteers?”

In January 2026, the first Methodist school that caters to students with special needs will be opened. ACS (Academy) will be Singapore’s fifth ASD-NC (Autism Spectrum Disorder-National Curriculum) Special Education school and will serve students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who have no intellectual impairment and can access the national curriculum.

“We not only need teachers, we also need more Christian ministry workers. Our schools are a big harvest field,” said Bishop Lim.

“As a Church. we need to practice Scriptural holiness, meaning living life according to Scripture. Our acts of devotion must be consistent. And our acts of mercy must be genuine. Meaning we must love God by loving our neighbour.” 

Ending his sermon, Bishop Lim said: “And so this is a call to action. A call for us to continue to run the race, fixing our eyes on Jesus and not lose heart. May God help us.”

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