In 1929 Rev J A Supramaniam of Short Street Tamil Methodist Church, with the help of assistant pastor Rev S M Thevathasan, Mr A Athisayam and Mr VA Chelliah started worship services at Seletar Air Base. This was the beginning of the history of Seletar Tamil Methodist Church. In 1935, under the leadership of Rev S S Pakianathan the Tamil District was organised, and Seletar Tamil Methodist Church was formed.
In 1937, the congregation at the Royal Air Force Station saw the appointment of Mr Chelliah as their supply pastor. From 1938 to 1939, Mr KJ Ponniah, who was a teacher at the Anglo Chinese Continuation School, was appointed together with Mr V Devasagayam, to start regular worship services on Sundays. From 1948 to 1958, Mr Vidwan, Mr V Chellam, Mr C A Watson, Mr Joshua Baruch served the Church and assisted in the Sunday school and other ministries in Seletar. From 1960 to 1967 Mr I Chelladurai, Mr Mariasamy, Rev Dr E J Thoraisingam, were assisting in the ministries at Seletar.
From 1968 to 1974, Rev Prahbu Dass Roberts became the pastor in charge. The pull out by the British, affected the church membership. Many associate members left Singapore. Mr C D Pandian and Mr Philip Jesudass assisted in conducting Sunday worship services and in the youth ministry while Mrs Prabhu Dass assisted with the WSCS.
Rev Martin Alphonse was appointed in 1980, as the pastor in charge of Seletar Tamil Methodist Church. In 1982, the Singapore Air Force told the Church to move to a new location, as they wanted to acquire back the worship place for their usage. Thus, we shifted to Abundant Grace Presbyterian Church at Jalan Kayu. The worship services at this place, started as early as 7 am.
In 1990, we moved to the Syrian Orthodox Church at Yio Chu Kang Road. Then in 1996, we moved again to Salem Chapel at Thomson Hill Drive. In 2004, the Lord gave us a vision to start an outreach ministry in the east of Singapore. Under the leadership of Rev R Prahbu, the pastor in charge, we started Cell Groups and Home Prayer meetings at Pasir Ris, Tampines and Bedok. These meetings were held every Saturday and about 25 to 30 members attended.
On 1st January 2005, the Lord blessed us with a place of worship at St George’s Chapel off Loyang Avenue next to the Changi Air Base. The relocation to Changi was very significant as the Lord showed us a new ground to expand our Church ministry. Our Sunday service starts at 8:00 am, after which we have our breakfast fellowship at 10:00 am. The Youth Ministry, WSCS and Adult Men Fellowship commences after the breakfast fellowship.
We would like to acknowledge the pastors who have served Seletar Tamil Methodist Church from 1983 to 2008; they are Rev Prem Kumar, Rev I G Sundrerajan, Rev Milton Lazarus, Rev Dr E J Thoraisingam, Rev Philip Abraham, Rev Ebenezer Mohan and Rev R Prabhu. Rev Dr Vinson Samuel is currently our resident pastor and he has been with us since January 2008. May the Lord continuously bless them, their Ministry and families abundantly.
We have been blessed with a memorable journey, in which our Lord has lead us through various locations of worship beginning at the Seletar Air Base, then to Jalan Kayu followed by a place in Yio Chu Kang and now in Changi. |