Thursday, June 30, 2011

Thian Hock Keng Temple 天福宫


"The temple started out as a prayer house located along the shoreline of the Telok Ayer Basin. Immigrants from China built the prayer house dedicated to the goddess Ma Zu (or Tian Hou), protector of seafarers and navigators, between 1821 and 1822... Between 1839 and 1842, extensive reconstruction transformed the prayer house into Thian Hock Keng, which means Temple of Heavenly Happiness." (- National Library Board)

(more pics at my photo blog on temples, here )

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

the Armenian Church


"The Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator is the first Christian church built in Singapore in 1835. Designed by Irish architect, George D. Coleman, it is considered as one of his masterpieces." (- armeniansinasia.org) It was gazetted as a national monument on 6 July 1973.