Armenian Church

The Church of St Gregory the Illuminator was built in 1835 for a community of about a dozen Armenian families and is the oldest church in Singapore. George Coleman designed it and adapted the plan to the climate with deep porticoes and tall shuttered windows. In the memorial garden lies Agnes Joaquim, who bred the orchid that became Singapore's national flower and carries her name, and the churchyard holds the graves of the small community that built it.

Highlights

• The Coleman design - a neoclassical church adapted for the tropical climate.
• Agnes Joaquim's grave - the breeder of Singapore's national flower.
• The memorial garden - the churchyard with the Armenian community's graves.
• The oldest church - the first Christian building on the island, from 1835.

When to go

Year round; the church is open daily. Mornings are quietest. Services are occasional as the Armenian community is now very small.

Practical notes

The church is very small and takes half an hour. The Armenian community it was built for has almost vanished. High-rise development crowds the site.

Nearby

Old Hill Street Police Station is beside it, and Fort Canning is west.