Traditional Chinese 聖公會新加坡教區 | Simplified Chinese 圣公会新加坡教区 | |
Hanyu Pinyin Wade–Giles Shengkunghui Hsinchiap'o Chiao-ch'ü Yale Romanization Shèngūnghwèi Syīnjyāpwō Jyàuchyū | ||
The Anglican Diocese of Singapore (Chinese: 圣公会新加坡教区; pinyin: Shènggōnghuì Xīnjiāpō Jiāoqū) consists of 26 Anglican parishes in Singapore and 6 deaneries throughout the Asia region. It has an established history of church-planting as well as providing educational, medical and social services in Singapore and the neighbouring region. The Diocese of Singapore is in communion with the See of Canterbury. St Andrew's Cathedral is the cathedral church of the diocese.
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Currently, the diocese is headed by the bishop and former vicar of St John-St Margaret Church, the Right Reverend Rennis Ponniah.
Diocesan coat of arms
The coat of arms of the Diocese of Singapore which belongs to the category of ecclesiastical heraldry, consists of a mitre surmounted on a St Andrew's Shield. The mitre symbolises apostolic authority and divine endorsement to govern the Anglican diocese in the region. The crozier symbolises the bishop's episcopate and the key represents the access to heaven. Emblazoned upon the St Andrew's Shield are four bunches of wheat symbolising the harvest fields which God has entrusted to the diocese.
History
In 1881, St. Andrew's Church was made the cathedral church of the then newly established Diocese of Singapore, Labuan and Sarawak. A diocese over such a large area was quite unmanageable, and in 1909 Singapore was made a separate diocese, with Bishop Charles J. Ferguson-Davie as the first bishop of the diocese. On 6 February 1960, it merged with another diocese to form the Diocese of Singapore and Malaya. On 8 April 1970, the diocese was dissolved and split into Diocese of Singapore and Diocese of West Malaysia.
Parishes
To date, there are 26 Anglican parishes in the diocese:
Deaneries
There are six deaneries in the Diocese of Singapore:
A dean oversees the mission work in each deanery and regularly reports to the director of missions of the Diocese of Singapore. The present director of missions is the Right Reverend Rennis Ponniah who is also the dean of St Andrew's Cathedral.
Schools
Anglican schools in Singapore:
In addition, there are six kindergartens and six child development centres.
Medical services
The St Andrew's Mission Hospital (SAMH) is a non-profit voluntary welfare organisation under the Diocese of Singapore. It is the corporate headquarters that oversees its several medical arms such as:
With the re-location of St. Andrew's Community Hospital to Simei, SAMH plans to redevelop the Elliot Road site into a centre for helping autistic youth and adults. St. Andrew's Autism Centre will be an integrated and comprehensive centre providing medical, education, day care, vocational training, job placement and respite care services. SAMH is working closely with the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Education on the setting up of this centre.