To commemorate the Singapore Bicentennial, the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS) conducted a four-part walking workshop series developed based on SHS’s two-year research project on 21 historic places of worship in Telok Ayer, Tanjong Pagar and Tanjong Malang. This project was supported by the National Integration Council, National Heritage Board, Our SG Fund, and Singapore Bicentennial Committee.

 

Participants were guided by SHS researchers, Lynn Wong and Fauzy Ismail, to places of worship to understand how custodians of these sites view their history, their needs, as well as the challenges for sustaining their communities.

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This was followed by a discussion workshop facilitated by Dr Chua Ai Lin, Executive Director of SHS, introducing concepts relevant to the theme and group discussion by the participants.

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• 29 Sept 2019: Between skyscrapers & MRT: Historic places of worship in Tg Pagar & Tg Malang

 

This walking workshop focused on the theme of land use and development and the challenges faced by four places of worship amidst rapid urban change.

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• 27 Oct 2019: Life and soul: Historic places of worship in Telok Ayer

 

This walking workshop in Telok Ayer focused on how six places of worship have tried to create vibrancy and stay relevant in modern Singapore.

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• 24 Nov 2019: Continuity and succession: Historic places of worship in Cantonment & Bukit Pasoh

 

This walking workshop focused on the theme of succession in the historically-continuous communities at these four places of worship.

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• 29 Dec 2019: Culture and Memory: Historic places of worship in Ann Siang and Kreta Ayer

 

This walking workshop focused on how custodians of these places of worship transmit cultural knowledge and social memory across generations.