St.John's-St.Margaret's Church

ANGLICAN STRUCTURE

• St. John’s – St. Margaret’s Church is part of the Diocese and Province. Early Anglican settlers arrived in 1819 and founded the Anglican Church in 1826.
• The Diocese of Singapore was formed in 1909. The Province of South East Asia was formed in 1996, comprising the Dioceses of Singapore, West Malaysia, Sabah and Kuching. Our Diocese Bishop is Rennis Ponniah.
• The Vicar of St. John’s – St. Margaret’s Church is Rev Joshua Sudharman.

OUR BELIEFS & HERITAGE

Anglican Ethos

OUR HISTORY

1971 – Dover area was just an open field; some said the area surrounding the church was a graveyard! The present sanctuary, formerly St. John’s Garrison Church, stood lonely on a hillock. A distance away at St. Margaret’s Secondary School, the church planted by St. Andrew’s Cathedral, a congregation of about 90 people, was looking for a more suitable place to worship. After months of discussion, permission was given for this group to

use St. John’s Church. Finally, on 28th Nov 1971, the birth, or more appropriately the marriage, of St. John and St. Margaret took place.

For the first 5 years, St. John’s – St. Margaret’s Church remained the daughter church of St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Rev. Cecil McSparron, a Cantonese-speaking Irish missionary was Priest-in-charge. He became the first Vicar of SJSM in January 1977 when the church was given parish status. Through Rev. McSparron’s emphasis on living by the Scriptures, evangelism and lay training, the seeds for growth were planted.

Rev. Dr Roger Campbell was appointed Vicar from 1978 – 1985. By 3 April 1982 the office block was completed and was dedicated by Bishop Chiu Ban It. Rev. Soh Chye Ann was appointed Vicar from 1986 – 1992.

Rt Rev. Rennis Ponniah was appointed Vicar from 1993 – 2012. Another development of the Education Block and the Chapel was consecrated on 20 November 1999 by Bishop Moses Tay.

In 22 January 2006, Christ Sanctuary was completed and dedicated by Bishop John Chew.

Rev. Joshua Sudharman was appointed Vicar on 1 October 2012.