Church of the Risen Christ
Church of the Risen Christ | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Year consecrated | 1971 |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | 91 Toa Payoh Central, Singapore 319193 |
Architecture | |
Type | Parish church |
Completed | 1971 |
Website | |
http://www.risenchrist.org.sg |
The Church of the Risen Christ (
History
Construction
The growing
In June 1969, religious bodies in Singapore were invited by the Singapore Government to tender for a piece of land of 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2). A month later, the government announced that a Roman Catholic church would be built at the junction of Toa Payoh Central and Lorong 4. The announcement sparked off a massive challenge of raising $450,000 for a church building, which fell on the shoulders of the late Rev Fr Pierre Abrial and Rev Fr Adrian Anthony.
While contributions were forthcoming from benefactors and parishioners, Fr Abrial had to make personal visits to parishioners to ask for further donations, some of which were collected over 18 months instalments. By mid-June 1971, they were only some $30,000 short of the target. This shortage was eventually filled by the parishioners over the next few months. About two weeks later, the Church of the Risen Christ was officially opened on 3 July 1971 by Archbishop
Originally, the Church was to be known as Church of the Resurrection, but was changed to Church of the Risen Christ as the former term was found to be rather abstract and impersonal. A quotation from the souvenir magazine published in conjunction with the Church's official opening cites the following rationale:
"The name RISEN CHRIST expresses in a better way the unique character of the Easter event. We believe in a Risen Christ. We believe that He is alive and that we have a relationship with God through Him. Our Church stands as a permanent witness to such a faith".[2]
Expansion
Situated in the centre of the new satellite town, Church of the Risen Christ was meant to serve a population of 200,000 middle and low-income flat owners. As Toa Payoh town estate grew in its affluence and size, so did the Church and its parish community.
In an effort to reduce noise from the road traffic nearby, Church of the Risen Christ became among the first Roman Catholic Church to install an
The grotto was later built in 1990 in honour of the
One notable incident involving the church was a burglary on 17 May 1999 that resulted in the theft of $50,000 from the church's safe.[3] This money consisted of the church's weekend collection, money for additional church expenses, and donations from a special religious celebration held on the Thursday prior to the burglary.
As time went on by, space constraints posed a growing concern. Catechism classes for children were conducted in places like the sacristy and kitchen, thereby impeding on the priests' privacy and opportunity for interaction. Hence, the Church decided to build a new extension that would meet the needs of the growing community. Construction on the new 4-storey extension began in early 2003. Costing approximately $3.5 million, the new building houses the priest quarters and kitchen and contains 13 rooms that double up as classrooms and meeting rooms.
Renovation
At the same time, renovations within the church were carried out. The flight of stairs leading up to the Main Entrance was replaced by a new staircase with an extension built to house a youth room and an
Present-day
Due to redevelopment works at the
Music
Choirs
Choirs at the Church of the Risen Christ sing a varied repertoire of hymns and songs, from contemporary works to traditional hymns and chants.[5][6]
One of the more renowned choirs was the Peter Low Choir, which was based in the parish from 1970 until 2002, when it shifted to the
Organs
The Parish houses 2 Allen Digital Pipe Organs, which forms the foundation of congregational worship in the Liturgy and choral accompaniment.
The pipe organ is the instrument that is held in high esteem in the Roman Catholic Church for use in its liturgical celebrations. Musicam Sacram, which is a document issued by the Church on the use of music in the liturgy, states "The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem in the Latin Church, since it is its traditional instrument, the sound of which can add a wonderful splendor to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lift up men's minds to God and higher things."
The organ has an integral place in liturgical music in the Church of the Risen Christ, and is the sole instrument that accompanies the congregation and choirs during the mass. The organ is also used together with other encouraged forms of liturgical music like choral polyphony and plainchant. It is hoped that this total experience of liturgical music will lead the faithful to a greater awareness of the divine in the liturgical celebrations, and help the faithful to truly sing the mass, and not just sing at mass.
The Choir Loft Organ is a new one that was purchased in 2010 for use in Sunday masses and replaces an older Allen which served the church for a good 20 years. The new instrument is an Allen Quantum 2 manual and pedal instrument with 45 stops or voices. Other notable features include a set of 6 voicebanks which allow the entire organ's voices to be changed to sound like pipe organs built in different musical periods or countries. These include the American Classic, Cavaillé-Coll (French), Arp Schnitger (North German baroque), English Cathedral, Schlicker and Orchestral (pipe organ with orchestral sounds).
The other Allen Organ was purchased in 1998 to replace the ageing organ in the Sanctuary used for weekday services. It is a small instrument with over 20 stops.
Organisation
The church has a parish population of 8000 served by 3 priests:
- Rev Fr Edward Lim (Parish Priest)
- Rev Fr Leo Justin Chinnappan
- Rev Fr John Bin Shan
Controversies
On 4 October 2021, a 65-year old retiree fell violently ill[11] and was hospitalised after consuming ivermectin at the urging of a group of close friends from the Church of the Risen Christ. The group claimed that the mRNA vaccine was against God and urged her not to get vaccinated. They also claimed that the virus was a test of faith and that vaccines were Satanic. Upon hospitalization, the group administrators quickly removed the retiree from Telegram chats and erased all conversations with her.
See also
- Archdiocese of Singapore
- Roman Catholicism in Singapore
- Toa Payoh New Town
References
- ^ Fr. P. Decroix, MEP History of the Church and churches in Malaysia and Singapore (1511-2000) 2005- Page 332 "Not far from that place, the town of TOA PAYOH had been completed in the 1970's and a church with 8,000 parishioners had been dedicated to the "RISEN CHRIST" in 1971. The new church located some distance further away would naturally become a sister church with the name of CHRIST THE KING (1982). The initiative of the erection of that new church complex was due to Fr. Scott (CICM)...."
- ^ "History". www.risenchrist.org.sg. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ^ "Thieves take $50,000 from church". The Straits Times. 18 May 1999. p. 25.
- ^ "Demolition works begin at Novena Church". CatholicNews. CatholicNews. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
- ^ Warren Fernandez - Thinking allowed?: politics, fear and change in Singapore 2004 -- Page 133 "For years as a boy, I was a member of the famous Peter Low choir, which sang at the Risen Christ Church in Toa Payoh. When the choir embarked on a goodwill tour of the United States, I happily donned a yellow and gold baju, sarung and ..."
- ^ Kar Tiang Low, Who's who in Singapore, 2006 Who's Who Publishing - 2006- Volume 3 - Page 335 "Born 1948; married Linda, 2 daughters Lynette and Lorraine. Educ: SJI where he was an altar boy. Set up Peter Low Choir in the Church of the Risen Christ in 1971, taught children in Toa Payoh to read classical music and sing hymns in Latin; ...:
- ^ "The Choir That Peter Low Gives The Church: The Catholic News".
- ^ "Choir honours the Pope's visit with hymns on tape". Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ Billboard - 15 December 1979 Vol. 91, n° 50 "SEASONAL SMASH - Cruising down the river is the Church of the Risen Christ Choir, whose WEA album, "Christmas in Singapore." is reportedly the ... with one microphone. Producer was Donald Wong; leading the choir was Peter Low."
- ^ Billboard - 28 December 1989 Vol. 93, n° 47 ".... sees every one as a potential customer for the third album by the Peter Low Choir."
- ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 4 October 2021.