The Brethren movement arrived in Singapore with Philip Robinson (founder of Robinson and Company), and a few others in the 1860s. Robinson had converted to Christianity at the early age of 14 and was brought up in the Plymouth Brethren tradition, which was a return to the New Testament manner of gathering in close-knit fellowship groups. The movement also eschewed ordained leadership in favour of relying upon the Holy Spirit for the necessary ministerial gifts amongst the assembly, and emphasised purity of doctrine.

Robinson and his wife Elisa were a devout couple. In 1864, they and a few like-minded Christians rented a room at Bencoolen Street, intending that in these humble premises (called the “Mission Room”), believers could meet for worship and the gospel could be preached. This was the beginning of the Brethren movement in Singapore. Two years later the Mission Room had become too small to house the increased number of believers, and so Bethesda Chapel was built at Bras Basah Road to house the assembly. God richly blessed the pioneering work of this congregation and within the next six months, a further extension had to be added to seat more people. From here, the work of the Brethren spread to Neil Road and Upper Serangoon Road, where several new assemblies, including Chinese speaking ones, began to meet regularly.

We trace the origins of our assembly at Yio Chu Kang Chapel back to 1953, when the elders of Bethesda Hall felt it was time for believers living in Upper Serangoon and Yio Chu Kang districts to meet together for Sunday worship. Over the next few decades, as the Lord blessed us with increased numbers, our assembly was housed at several different premises until 1978, when we moved to our present location at 242 Yio Chu Kang Road.

Major Milestones

1954

On 3 Jan 1954, the first breaking of bread service in English was started at the hall owned by the Chinese speaking assembly.

1966

In 1966, the assembly moved to No. 2 St. Helier’s Ave (a kindergarten premise owned by Mr & Mrs Ng Teow Kee). Then, about 60 persons regularly attended service. Around that time, we started calling ourselves Yio Chu Kang Chapel.

1973

In 1973 a 11-member church committee was formed. The church prayed and began fund-raising efforts to purchase a property.

1975

In 1975, the church took a step of faith and purchased a 2-storey bungalow house at 40 Jansen Road. We continued to look out for another property as it was too small for the assembly’s needs.

1978

The premise at Jansen Road was sold in 1978 to buy an old bungalow house at 242 Yio Chu Kang Road. We moved in, in February 1978. Membership at the time was steady at about 75.

1988

Through the 1980s, membership grew steadily. By 1985, there was an acute need for more space. New building plans were drawn up by the architects and submitted for approval. YCK Gospel Hall was invited to join us in the building project. Construction of the new building started in June 1987. During the rebuilding period, the 185-strong congregation moved to the vacated premises of the Bethesda Hall (Bras Basah), the first Brethren church in Singapore. On 15 October 1988, we officially opened and dedicated the new building to God.

1993

Various minor works were done on the church building in the 1990s, as our numbers and ministries grew. In September 1993, the church approved the extension of the first storey multi-purpose hall, to start a kindergarten work. By 1994 our membership had grown to about 210.

2003

Our numbers grew by another 20% to nearly 250 in 2000, with 40 to 50 people worshipping regularly at the evening service. In 2003, extensive renovations began to increase the size of the worship hall, and to provide a basement and additional ministry rooms.

2004

Yio Chu Kang Chapel celebrated her 50th Anniversary in 2004 with a Thanksgiving Service, which also marked the beginning of another chapter in our journey. In 2004, renovations and extension to our existing building were completed, providing the church with more facilities for our work.