St. Andrews Cathedral, Netley Abbey in Hampshire, England, Colonial Singapore, City Hall
In the center of Colonial Singapore is the old City Hall. This ultra fancy government building was completed in 1929. On August 9th 9 every year the National Day Parade can be viewed from its steps. The parade is held to celebrate Singapore’s 1959 independence from Great Britain and the birth of the Republic in 1965. The building is not open to the public. Today it’s used as an official government building, housing active offices. It is permitted to sit on the steps and enjoy the view. The exterior and particularly the steps are often used as a background for wedding shots.
Not far from City Hall and many of the top Singapore hotels, is St. Andrews Cathedral. Originally built in 1834, it was demolished by lightning in the 1850’s. The new church was designed by Colonel Ronald Macpherson. Built in the English Gothic style, it is said to resemble Netley Abbey in Hampshire, England. Indian convicts, serving their time in Singapore were conscripted to do the actual construction. Some inventive plasterer created a concoction called Madras chunum, to finish the walls with. It’s made from crushed eggshells, egg white, lime, coconut husks and water. The shining white walls of the cathedral are the result of this clever invention.
The structure which was completed in 1861 has withstood the ravages of time. Today it has a lofty interior simple & white with stained glass windows. There are marble & brass plaques commemorating the British who died and others in memory of Australian army nurses who were killed during the Japanese invasion. While Singapore was being bombarded, in the days leading up to the surrender of the Japanese in 1942, the cathedral became a makeshift hospital. Original church bells were said to be donated by Maria Revere Balasteir, daughter of Paul Revere and the wife of Singapore’s first American Consul.
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