“Jesus Only.” Those words marked the Bethesda Chapel. It stood at 77 Bras Basah Road. Today we will delve into the captivating story of Bethesda Chapel.
The origins trace back to Philip Robinson. He was an English businessman from Bristol. Robinson arrived in Singapore in 1857. He established Robinson & Company in 1859. This became a prominent trading institution.
By the early 1860s, Robinson opened his home to believers. They met for Bible study and fellowship. The desire for a public testimony grew among these saints. In 1864, they hired a room on Bencoolen Street. It served as a Mission Room.
On July 3, 1864, seven believers met to break bread. They remembered the Lord. Robinson believed the Word of God was sufficient. He desired to be known only as a Christian.
In July 1866, the Christians used their funds to build a permanent chapel. It was located at Bras Basah Road. The Bethesda Chapel opened on September 30, 1866. It stood in contrast to the grand cathedrals nearby. The assembly comprised living stones, not just bricks.
In 1867, Tan See Boo joined the fellowship. He was the first Asian member. Converted in China, he aided missionary work among the Chinese. That year, fifteen people were baptized. They included Europeans, Malay, Chinese, and Indian believers. The Bethesda Chapel maintained close contact with Asian races. This was at the expense of colonial approval.
The Bethesda Chapel had strong missionary efforts. They brought the gospel to the local population. They did this through open-air preaching and tract distribution. They visited homes, prisons, leper colonies, and hospitals. Missionaries preached throughout the Malayan Peninsula and Siam.
Sailors and soldiers often visited Bethesda. Singapore was a vital British naval base. Sunday teas and song services invited sailors for refreshment and preaching. Many found salvation at Bethesda. They spread the gospel throughout the British Empire.
In 1932, a new Gospel Hall opened in Katong. Ministry and gospel meetings occurred in English, Malay, and Chinese. The Katong work focused on the Malay-speaking Straits Chinese.
The Lord preserved the assembly during the war years. Several assemblies formed from the original Bethesda at Bras Basah. Leadership passed from Europeans to local believers.
The assembly thrived after the war. It carried on evangelistic efforts among students near Bethesda. By the 1980s, the hall became too small. In 1986, they built a larger worship place in Ang Mo Kio.
Today, hundreds gather weekly for the Lord’s Supper. Bethesda Hall continues to witness for the Lord. Regular activities include Sunday School and meetings for all ages. They also conduct outreach to Filipino and Indian communities. The Lord has indeed been faithful to Bethesda Chapel.
The Bethesda Chapel at Bras Basah Road was demolished in the 1990s. A replacement plaque with “Jesus Only” is in use today at Bethesda Hall in Ang Mo Kio. The legacy continues.