St Andrew’s Cathedral, Singapore

St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore tickets: which one to buy

Saint Andrew's Cathedral stands on a green lawn in the Civic District of Singapore, next to City Hall MRT station, and entry is free. It is the largest cathedral in Singapore and the seat of the Anglican Diocese. The cathedral welcomes visitors outside service times, and free guided tours are offered by volunteers on certain days, explaining its history and architecture.

Walking tours of the Civic District combine the cathedral with the National Gallery in the former Supreme Court and City Hall, the Victoria Theatre, the Asian Civilisations Museum, the Padang and Raffles Hotel, which are all within a short walk. The cathedral also has a visitor centre. The building is air-conditioned, which is welcome in the heat. Services are held in several languages, including English, Mandarin and Tamil. Dress modestly, and note that photography during services is not allowed.

Visiting St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore: what to see

The first church on the site was built in the 1830s, designed by George Drumgoole Coleman, but it was twice struck by lightning and demolished. The present cathedral was designed by Colonel Ronald MacPherson in the Gothic Revival style and built between 1856 and 1861 by Indian convict labourers. The walls are coated with a plaster called Madras chunam, made from shell lime, egg white, sugar and coconut husk water, which gives the building its bright white finish. The spire rises above the lawns, and the interior has tall arches, stained glass windows and memorial plaques. During the Japanese invasion of 1942, the cathedral was used as an emergency hospital. The stained glass window over the entrance commemorates Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore.

The cathedral was declared a national monument in 1973. The cathedral's floor tiles, pews and pulpit reflect Victorian design, and memorials honour British soldiers and civilians. A mosaic in the porch was added in the twentieth century. The three stained glass windows in the apse show the arms of the colonial governors. The spire is visible from many parts of the Civic District. The grounds are landscaped with trees and lawns that provide a green space in the city. A church hall and visitor centre offer information about the cathedral's history and community work. The interior is calm and cool, a contrast with the heat outside. The cathedral's bells are rung for services on Sundays.

St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily, with visits restricted during services, especially on Sundays. Singapore is hot and humid all year, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, especially during the monsoon from November to January. The Civic District is lively during the Singapore Night Festival in August, when buildings are illuminated with light installations, and during National Day celebrations on 9 August, when the Padang is used for parades.

Christmas brings carol services. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and combine it with the National Gallery and a walk along the Singapore River. The Raffles Hotel, a short walk away, houses the Long Bar, famous as the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail.