A MOMENT IN
TIME
PART TWO FORMER
C CHIJ H ISCHOOL JMES
FORMER CHIJ SCHOOL *NOW KNOWN AS CHIJMES
CONTENTS what about monuments?
5–6
what’s the history behind it?
7–8 what are the architectural details?
9 – 12 A MOMENT IN TIME
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ABOUT CHIJMES was a historic building complex in Singapore, which was originally known as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ), a premier girls’ school established in 1854 by an order of French Catholic nuns. Originally located on a self-contained city block bound by Victoria Street, Bras Basah Road, North Bridge Road and Stamford Road, the site formerly included the English-language primary and secondary schools, a Chinese-medium school called St Nicholas Girls’ School, an orphanage, the nun’s quarters, and the chapel. In 1983, the primary and secondary schools relocated to their current premises at 626 and 628 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh respectively. The site was redeveloped and partially demolished to build the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) headquarters. This complex of convent buildings has a Gothic-style chapel. It was used as a Catholic convent for 132 years, with Caldwell House constructed in 1840–1841 and the chapel in 1904. The remaining complex includes Caldwell House, the chapel now known as CHIJMES Hall, and the orphanage building, and now houses a number of retail and food and beverage outlets. The complex was gazetted as a national monument on 26 October 1990.
A MOMENT IN TIME
The fountain that is placed right on the entrance of CHIJMES.
Building of CHIJMES from the outside, specifically focusing on the roof.
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HISTORY
In 1851, Father Jean-Marie Beurel, priest of the Good Chijmes reveals how beautifully Shepherd Church, was sent that love does in fact conquer to Paris to recruit teachers on all. Its odyssey from struggling behalf of the Apostolic Vicar convent school to resplendent of Malaya. He approached living history was never easy, the Institute of the Charitable but then most worthwhile Schools of the Holy Infant journeys are always challenging. Jesus of St Maur, an order of Chijmes was once the Convent well-educated and socially of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ), conscious nuns. In October established in 1854. The order 1852, the order sent a group of the Holy Infant Jesus was of nuns, led by Rev. Mother founded by a Frenchman, Mathilde Raclot, to Penang, Father Nicholas Barre. Born in where they established the first Amiens, France in 1621 and Infant Jesus school in Asia. educated at a Jesuit college in his hometown, Nicholas In February 1854, Mother Barre decided to dedicate Raclot and three companions his life to God. He joined the travelled to Singapore, where Convent des Minimes, one of they moved into a house on the the strictest orders in the church corner of Victoria Street and and was appointed Professor of Bras Basah Road. Purchased Theology. Despite his success, from magistrate’s clerk H. C. he was a man of humility and Caldwell, it came to be known the idea of improving education as Caldwell House. Despite the in France struck him. initially austere living conditions, the sisters commenced lessons Young women volunteers of for two classes of students less Rouen ran the first “Charitable than two weeks after their arrival. Schools” in their town to Later referred to colloquially as teach the poor children. They the “Town Convent”, the school went each morning to teach, soon expanded and became gathering the children from known for providing education home to home if necessary. of a good standard. Father Barre realized the need of spiritual bond among the The following year, the convent sisters to counteract rising acquired the house adjacent to opposition from the other Caldwell House. This became “writing masters” or teachers an orphanage for children who of that time. Thus, he began a were unwanted or from poor or new religious congregation. broken homes. Single mothers As membership increased, the or women who could not afford schools multiplied. In Paris, to keep their babies often he named his schools simply left them at the orphanage’s as “School of the Holy Infant
side gate, which came to be known as the “Baby Gate” Jesus”. In 1678, he founded a and the “Gate of Hope”. Such Novitiate for the Sisters on the abandoned children were often Seine. female, Chinese, and suffering from poor health. Many died However, in May 1686, his after being abandoned, with health declined and on 24 May, some already dead upon arrival. Father Barre’s soul returned Those that survived learned to the Maker. By the end of vocational and domestic skills the century, less than 25 and received a free education years after the opening of the at the school. Mother-House in Paris, Father Barre’s congregation was Over the following years, the directing 80 establishments convent steadily acquired for free education and 40 adjacent plots of land that boarding schools in the French became part of the growing provinces. The period of office convent complex. In 1860, the of Rev Mother de Faudoas convent bought land that had (1837-1877) saw a wonderful belonged to Raffles Institution. expansion in the Institute’s work. In 1892, aided by contributions The Institute developed rapidly from the government and after official approval by the wealthy benefactors, a boarding Holy See of Rome was given. house was built on the Stamford It spread from the Atlantic to Road side of the complex. the Mediterranean, to the Far East - from America to England, By the 1890s, the simple chapel Spain, Malaya, Japan and even that had been constructed in to Thailand. 1855 had become insufficient for the expanding school and The first missionary trip to the orphanage. In 1898, a new East was made in 1851 by five Gothic chapel was designed by nuns but it was a failure. The Father Charles Benedict Nain, Superior of the party died at a priest from the Church of St sea, another caught brain-fever Peter and St Paul and a trained and a third left on reaching architect who also designed Singapore. Only two nuns were the distinctive wings of St left and another party had to Joseph’s Institution. The chapel be sent. Sister Mathilde was was completed in 1903 and chosen as the Superior of this consecrated on 11 June 1904. new party of four Sisters who Classes were started for finally reached Penang on 28 Chinese-speaking girls at four October 1852 after a tiring bungalows rented from Hotel journey of six months. Van Wijk (also known as Hotel Van Dyke), adjacent to the
A MOMENT IN TIME
Classes site. convent wereInstarted Octoberfor 1931, Chinesethe conventgirls speaking bought at four the hotel bungalows and demolished rented fromit.Hotel A newVan block Wijk of (also classrooms known as Hotel wasVan builtDyke), in 1933 adjacent that became to the convent Victoria Girls’ site. School, In October later St Nicholas 1931, the convent Girls’ School. bought the hotel and demolished it. A new block of Relocation ofwas classrooms school built and in 1933 that development became Victoria of CHIJMES Girls’ School, later AsNicholas St early as the Girls’ 1960s, School. there was talk of developing what was known then as Raffles of International Relocation school Centre, and where Raffles of development City CHIJMES now stands. By the early 1970s, As as thethe 1960s, government there was was of talk considering developing this what in tandem was known with plans then as Raffles to develop International a massCentre, transport where Raffles system. CityAllnow these stands. plans By earmarked the early 1970s, the large the government convent sitewas for redevelopment. considering this in tandem The government with plans eventually to develop acquired a mass transport the landsystem. from the these All convent plans in 1983, earmarked and the the large schools were convent site for allocated redevelopment. a new site The in Toa Payoh. eventually acquired the government land from the convent in 1983, and On 3schools the November were 1983, allocated mass was a new heldininToa site the Payoh. chapel for the last time, after which it was deconsecrated for non-religious On 3 Novemberuse. 1983, By December, mass was the primary held in the chapel and secondary for the last schools time, had vacated after which itthewas Victoria deconsecrated Street site andnon-religious for moved to their use. new Bypremises December, in Toa the primary Payoh, and where secondary they began schools
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had vacated operations thethe following Victoriayear. Street site and moved to their new premises At the in Toaoriginal Payoh,convent where site, theythe began secondary the operations school following building year. was demolished in 1984 to build the MRTC At theheadquarters. original convent After initially site, the indicating that secondary school it wouldbuilding undertakewas the restorationinof1984 demolished the site, to the build Urban the Redevelopment MRTC headquarters. Authority After (URA) initially put up the site for indicating thatsale it would in March undertake 1990. To preserve the restoration theofambience the site, the of the Urban remaining buildings, Redevelopment Authority URA gazetted (URA) Caldwell put up the House siteand for the salechapel in March as national 1990. To preserve monuments thein 1990, ambience andthe of designated remaining the buildings, entire complex URA a conservation gazetted Caldwell area House with high and the restoration chapel as standards national monuments and strict in usage guidelines. 1990, and designated the entire complex a conservation area with The buildings high restoration underwent standardsextensive and strict restoration usage guidelines. works before the complex reopened in 1996 as CHIJMES. The buildings Pronounced underwent “chimes”, extensive the name incorporates restoration works the before initialsthe of the originalreopened complex school andinechoes 1996its as history as thePronounced CHIJMES. site of a chapel “chimes”, and schools. the name incorporates the initials of the original school and echoes its history as the site of a chapel and schools.
HISTORY
“It was a joy to learn new things.” Tan Mei Xing, Class of 1972
A MOMENT IN TIME
The architecture design featured inside of the chapel.
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ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE TheConvent Conventof of Holy Infant Jesus The thethe Holy Infant Jesus differentforfor being architecturally isisdifferent being an an architecturally self-containedcity cityblock block in Singapore self-contained in Singapore groupsofofbuildings buildings of different styles groups of different styles andperiods periods clustered in toorder and areare clustered in order to maintain a diversity in aesthetics. maintain a diversity in aesthetics.
TheAnglo-French Anglo-French chapel The GothicGothic chapel which which was designed Nain was designed by Father by NainFather is one of is most one of the most elaborate places the elaborate places of worship of worship ever builtTheinchapel Singapore. ever built in Singapore. was The chapel was and completed completed in 1904 declared in the1904 and declared the following year. following year.
Builtduring during 1840 to 1841, Built 1840 to 1841, theGeorge George Drumgoole Coleman's the Drumgoole Coleman's housefor forH.C. H.C. Caldwell is oldest the oldest house Caldwell is the buildingininthis thisenclave enclavethat thatincludes includesthe the building Gothicchapeland andSaint SaintNicholas Nicholas Girls' Gothicchapel Girls' Schoolbuildings.The buildings.The Caldwell House School Caldwell House wherenuns nunsdiddid their sewing, reading where their sewing, reading andwriting writingfor foryears yearsininthe the semicircular and semicircular roomwhile whilethethe storey served room firstfirst storey served as as parlourand andvisitors' visitors' room. early aaparlour room. TheThe early chapel,which whichis is Gothic style chapel, Gothic style hashas fine fine detailedworks worksononplasterwork, plasterwork, wall detailed thethe wall frescoesand andstained stainedglass glasspanels. panels. frescoes
few of 648 the capitals 648 capitals AAfew of the on the on the columnsofofthethe Chapel a spiral columns Chapel and and a spiral staircasealong alonga acorridor. corridor. The various staircase The various buildingsare arerelated related by design buildings by design with with theintent intenttotoform formexterior exteriorspaces spaces which the which wouldbebepleasing pleasing its users, would for for its users, and and wereused usedforfor church school activities were church school activities untilNovember November1983 1983 when school until when thethe school vacatedthethe premises. The spaces vacated premises. The spaces containedwithin withinthe thewhole whole block have contained block have beenadapted adaptedfor forpublic publicuse usewhich which has been has formedone oneofofthe themajor majorbuildings buildingsininthe the formed CentralArea. Area. Central
the designs of the gothic style portrays in the chapel and the decorated stained glass. the designs of the gothic style portrays in the chapel and the decorated stained glass.
AAMOMENT MOMENTIN INTIME TIME
FORMER CHIJ SCHOOL