While you may not always find the Cathedral of the Good Shephard in Singapore travel guides, it’s an inspiring historical site that’s well worth visiting and here’s more on what you need to know.
Cathedral Location
This noteworthy building is conveniently situated in the Museum Planning Area, which is within the Civic District and is around 500 metres from Grand Park City Hall, an ideal accommodation choice. For those based at such an SG Clean certified City Hall hotel, Singapore sightseeing can easily be enjoyed with easy access to other attractions like the National Gallery. The City Hall, Bencoolen and Bras Basah MRT stations are all close by and can be used to reach the cathedral as well.
A Bit of History
The nation’s oldest Roman Catholic Church, the Cathedral of the Good Shephard was constructed in 1847 and was built on the site of a former chapel. Designed by Denis L. McSwiney, the cathedral was opened and blessed by Father Jean-Marie Beurel. Interestingly, it was used as an emergency hospital during World War Two and still offers a sanctuary of peace. In 1973, the cathedral was named a national monument and it subsequently went through a three-year restoration before reopening in 2016.
What to Expect
Featuring Renaissance architectural style, the cathedral design has been influenced by Saint Martin-in-the-Fields and Saint Paul’s, Covent Garden, two churches in London. The towering steeple, neo-Palladian porticoes and Tuscan columns are notable elements here; the interiors are equally impressive and include antique oil paintings depicting the ‘Way of the Cross’, stained-glass panels and a timber ceiling with ornate patterns. Also, of note is the pipe organ, the oldest of its kind in the country.
To Find Out More
For more insights into the Cathedral of the Good Shephard, you can head to the Cathedral Heritage Gallery which can be found in an annexe building known as the JM Beurel Centre. On the first Saturday of every month, heritage tours are conducted at 11:00am beginning from the cathedral’s main door. On the same day, you can also join an organ tour here after the 6:00pm mass. Check the official website (https://cathedral.catholic.sg/) for more on mass times should you wish to attend.
