Telok Ayer Church's New Heritage Gallery Brings WWII History to Life 80 Years On

136-year-old church hopes the facility can be an educational resource for everyone

- Chin Soo Fang

It provided refuge for 300 people during World War II, including serving as a "secret dungeon" where a number of women and children were hidden from the Japanese.

The 136-year-old Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church buffered its walls to ward off stray bullets and bombs, and its bell would chime to warn everyone of air raids. It was also designated as a medical post and air raid shelter where first-aid medical auxiliary services were deployed.

On Sept 13, the church unveiled its new heritage gallery, which is co-funded by the National Heritage Board's major project grant, to share its storied past.

The launch coincides with Singapore's 60th year of independence and the church building's centennial anniversary in 2025.

The gallery's opening also marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Singapore. On Sept 12 in 1945, following Japan's announcement of surrender on Aug 15 that same year, the Japanese formally surrendered in Singapore. This marked the end of the Occupation, which had begun in February 1942.

The gallery, spread across four storeys of the church, houses more than 200 items. These include pre-war, wartime and post-war documents such as baptism, marriage and death certificates, World War II artefacts like a helmet from a First Aid Party and other medical auxiliary services.

Additionally, it features items recovered from a 100-year-old time capsule that was unearthed in February 2024. Among the items from the capsule were a Bible, a hymnal and a 1924 edition of The Straits Times.

There are QR code touchpoints at 29 interactive stations that provide deeper dives into the past. Among these is the sound of the 100-year-old chime of a 70kg brass bell that once warned people of air raids.