Imagine trishaw peddlers seeking solace here. This is the Church of the True Light. It stands at the junction of Perak Road and Dickson Road. Its story began with a missionary named Miss Apple in 1911.
Miss Apple wanted to reach the Chinese population. She was aided by Guok Koh Muo. He was a 21-year-old journalist. Guok started Bible classes in a barber shop on Bencoolen Street.
The group grew. They moved to a nunnery on Victoria Street. It was there they first used the name Church of the True Light. They met in different locations before settling at Jalan Besar.
In the late 1930s the Church of the True Light bought land. The land was at the corner of Perak Road and Dickson Road. They planned to build their church. World War II disrupted their plans.
Construction was delayed for ten years. The church building at 25G Perak Road was completed in 1952. The congregation mainly comprised trishaw peddlers. They lived nearby. The church offered them free medical care and a kindergarten.
The architecture of the Church of the True Light shows Chinese influences. It is a conserved building. Biblical principles are written in Chinese script on the walls and pillars.
In 1963 the Church of the True Light became a full-fledged Anglican parish. Guok Koh Muo became its first vicar.
The Church of the True Light was once known as the Trishaw rider Church. They actively shared the Gospel. They reached out to trishaw riders, taxi drivers and shop keepers.
Today the Church of the True Light conducts services in multiple languages. These include English, Mandarin and Tamil. It caters to a multi-lingual congregation. They also hold services in Malayalam, Sinhalese and Hindi.
The church is open only on Saturdays and Sundays. The opening times are from 9:00am to 1:00pm.
The Church of the True Light has grown over the years. It has expanded from a Chinese Church. It now includes the Indian community and English-speaking groups. It also has Indonesian-speaking groups.
The Church of the True Light stands as a testament to faith. It is a beacon of hope for many. It started with a small group. It has grown into a diverse community. It continues to serve the people of Singapore.