Stories | Updated as of October 2019

Ang Mo Kio: Places of Worship Ang Mo Kio is one of ’s earliest and quintessential heartland towns in Singapore. Developed in the 1970s, Ang Mo Kio became a central area where new places of worship were built to cater to the diverse multicultural communities who settled in the area.

Masjid Al-Muttaqin The Masjid Al-Muttaqin is the only mosque in Ang Mo Kio, and stands as an iconic landmark. Since its completion in 1980, it continues to be an important place of worship for both Ang Mo Kio and neighbouring residents. Prior to the construction of Masjid Al-Muttaqin, there was no proper place of worship for many Muslim residents. As such, many had to travel down to mosques located at Upper , Road or Thomson Road. From time to time, the community would congregate at ad-hoc venues at HDB blocks along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 (Block 715) and Avenue 1 (Block 208) to conduct their religious activities.

To address this gap, a Malay Muslim man named Haji Muhammad Ariff raised the idea to build a mosque in Ang Mo Kio. Subsequently, fund-raising efforts went into full-swing. A fund-raising committee was formed and many residents chipped in to raise funds through door-to-door donations and even selling Malay food at ‘expos’ (a Malay fun-fair Pasar Malam event). With funds raised along with the mosque building fund, a 3,000 m2 site was secured and the mosque officially opened its doors in 1980. In 2016, the mosque underwent a $3.5 million rebuilding project with new extended facilities which can accommodate up to 4,000 worshippers featuring handicap-friendly facilities, refurbished classrooms and new multi- purpose areas.

Masjid Al-Muttaqin continues to play a central role for religious activities and prayers. Beyond its regular religious functions and its usual madrasah and kindergarten classes, the mosque also offers a homeopathy clinic as well as acupuncture services. Besides that, it offers social development programmes.

References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 https://roots.sg/Roots/Content/Places/landmarks/ang-mo-kio-heritage-trail-trail-one- from-ang-mo-kio-hub-to-block-259/masjid-al-muttaqin

 https://remembersingapore.org/2012/12/12/ang-mo-kio-my-hometown/

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masjid_Al-Muttaqin

Catholic Church of Christ the King The Catholic Church of Christ the King located at 2221 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 is the only catholic church in the neighbourhood. During the 1970s, the nearest places of worship for Catholics were located at Road or Serangoon Gardens. In order to bring greater accessibility and convenience for the surrounding catholic congregation in Ang Mo Kio, then Archdiocese decided to build a new catholic church in Ang Mo Kio. One of the more expensive churches to be built in those days, it cost a total of $3 million, and the church opened its doors on 26 September 1982. As more and more people began to live in Ang Mo Kio, church numbers also began to increase, and the building became too small to

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accommodate the people. Coupled with frequent problems of power shortages and a leaking roof, a rebuilding programme was undertaken in 1999 to make way for a bigger columbarium and church we see today.

Did you know: In the church, you will also see an icon of the Mother of Perpetual Help. This icon dates back to the 1950s and was originally venerated in Novena Church till it was badly tarnished. It was then kept in a store till 1998 when it was given away to a devotee. The devotee, upon hearing about the church’s rebuilding, donated the icon for display in the church. The grime and dirt on the icon was later removed by an art restorer and a new frame was installed.

References:  https://history.catholic.sg/church-of-christ-the-king/

 http://www.christtheking.com.sg/about/one-in-love-and-service/

AMK Methodist Church At the 1976 Trinity Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, a decision was made to build a Methodist church in Ang Mo Kio to cater to believers who were staying in the area. With the appointment of Reverend Wong Hoon Hee to head the church, Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church conducted its first Sunday services in a rented estate at No. 24 Mayflower Rise.

As the congregation steadily grew, the Methodist Church in Singapore successfully tendered a bid for their current premises along Ang Mo Kio Street 21, and the church building was completed in 1981. With the expansion of their ministry services, extension and upgrading works were carried out in 1995 and in 1997 where a third floor chapel was built. As they continued to grow in numbers, their existing facilities became insufficient to support the congregation. In 2008, the church embarked on their latest and biggest redevelopment project to construct a bigger and better equipped building. Today, Ang Mo Kio Methodist church has a steady attendance of over 1,000 worshippers and holds three main services at their main building as well as Ang Mo Kio Hub (Cinema Hall 4 & 5).

Did you know: Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church also holds weekly Tamil Services on Sunday under its affiliate church, Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church. It is one of the eight Tamil Methodist Churches that form the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference in Singapore. The congregation comprises of mainly Singaporeans and expats from India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 https://www.amkmc.org.sg/brief-history/

 http://amktmc.org/wp/about-us/who-are-we/

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Bethesda Hall (Ang Mo Kio) With history dating back to the 1860s as part of the Brethren Movement in Singapore, the current Bethesda community and building was established from two assemblies within the movement. The early beginnings of the Singapore’s Brethren Movement can be traced back to an Australian English merchant, Philip Robinson, who also owned the commercial enterprise, Robinsons. Along with several other believers, regular meetings and public worship sessions were held. By 1866, the believers raised funds that was used to build the Bethesda chapel at 77 Road. As the congregation continued to expand, more affiliated assemblies and church branches were started in Frankel estate, , and Bukit Arang. However, due to redevelopment plans in the early 1980s, both plots of land for Bethesda churches in Bras Basah & were reclaimed by the government. In their appeal, the Bethesda community was granted a land lease at their present-day building located at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4. The Bethesda hall at Ang Mo Kio was completed in 1986 and extensive renovation works have been continually done which have included the addition of a four-storey block. Today, weekly gathering is held for their 500 strong congregation. Other meetings include the weekly ministry and prayer meetings. Regular activities held are the Sunday School, Christian Education Programme, Basic Training Class, Young Peoples’ and Children’s meetings.

References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 https://www.bethesdahall.com/about

Ang Mo Kio Joint Temple The Ang Mo Kio Joint Temple consists of 3 older temples namely Kong Lim Kong (檺林宮), Kim Eang Tong (金英堂) and Leng San Giam (龙山岩),merged in 1978 to build a temple at its present site, prominently located along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. Occupied since 1983, the former building was demolished to make way for its current newly furnished temple that was completed in March 2011. Today, the temple remains an important place of worship for many devotees conducting significant large-scale religious processions and deities’ celebrations. It continues to stand as an important cultural landmark in the estate.

Kong Lim Kong (檺林宮) – Established in 1888, Kong Lim Kong is the oldest temple in Ang Mo Kio and one of the three temples that form the Ang Mo Kio Joint Temple. The Kong Lim Kong temple has its origins in China’s Nan’an county (南安), Fujian Province. During the late 19th century, many migrants from Yu Hu village settled down in present-day Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and formed a settlement known as Kow Tiow Kow (also known as Nine Bridges). Named after its ancestral temple in China, Hao Lin Gong, the temple was also known by locals as Tua Lang Kong (Temple of the Lords). During the early days where medical access was limited, many devotees sought healing divinations from the temple’s mediums while others sought advices on farming and life issues. Today, Kong Lim Kong temples continues to be a central gathering place for former Jio Sua villagers and some of its former inhabitants work as the temple staff. The temple continues to play an active role in its religious functions as well as community work.

Fun fact: Did you know that the temple’s opera stage was also used as a kindergarten for the village children?

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References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 http://shgis.nus.edu.sg/shgis_webapps/SSA1208_2016/Reports1/173_Kong%20Lim%20 Kong%20Temple.pdf

 http://www.beokeng.com/disptemple.php?temple=kong-lim-kong

Kim Eang Tong (金英堂) – Kim Eang Tong was founded by Hu Jin Fu (abbot), Chen Jin Mu and Yang Gui Rong together with the help of their spiritual master, a temple was established in 1961 along Thomson Road in a village named Jio Sua (means Stone Hill). As such Kim Eang Tong (金英堂) was also commonly known as Stone Hill Kim Eang Tong. Kim Eang Tong is also the only temple specifically dedicated to the Kim Eang (金英) sect, an order founded on precepts from Buddhism and Taoism traditionally exclusive to the Hakka community. Due to its prime location, the temple played a central role conducting and hosting numerous religious festivities such as initiation ritual possessions and celebration of deities’ birthdays such as Nine Emperor Gods Festival. Besides its religious functions, Kim Eang Tong plays an active role in serving the community since its early days. In a time where medical care was limited, the temple became a place where many would seek medical help from the resident spiritual master who was well-versed in Chinese traditional medicine. Today the temple continues to serve the religious needs of the residents and the community in Ang Mo Kio.

Did you know: Even till today, Kim Eang Tong continues to contribute actively to society. During their annual lunar new year dinners, the temple often distributes Hong Baos (red packets) to senior citizens and welfare recipients, regardless of their race or religion.

References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 http://www.beokeng.com/disptemple.php?temple=kim-eang-tong

 http://kbmcv2010.blogspot.com/2010/06/kim-eang-tong-temple.html

 http://shgis.nus.edu.sg/shgis_webapps/SSA1208_2016/Reports/D3_343.pdf

Leng San Giam (龙山岩) – Dating back to the early 1900s with origins from Yongchun county (永春), Fujian province, the Chew immigrants built a temple in sole dedication to deity, Fa Zhu Gong (法主公). The temple built in the 1950s in Cheng Sua Lai (also known as Green Hills Interior), an old village in Ang Mo Kio along Chen San Road. Over time, the temple has also adopted two other deities who were the sworn brothers of Fa Zhu Gong (法 主公). The patron deities were famous for their healing miracles which attracted many followers and worshippers. Due to redevelopment plans for Cheng San Road, the temple merged with Kong Lim Kong (檺林宮) and Kim Eang Tong (金英堂) to form Ang Mo Kio Joint Temple.

Did you know: The temple was also famous for giving out “lucky” numbers for betting? Former villagers recounted how the medium would give the winning lottery results prior to

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the official announcements at 8pm and villagers would then buy the evening papers to confirm the results.

References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 http://www.beokeng.com/disptemple.php?temple=leng-san-giam

 https://roots.sg/Content/Places/landmarks/ang-mo-kio-heritage-trail-trail-one-from- ang-mo-kio-hub-to-block-259/ang-mo-kio-joint-temple

Potong Pasir Joint Temples Association As the name suggests, Joint Temples Association (波东巴西联合庙) consists of 5 temples that were previously from the Kampong Potong Pasir Area – namely Sam Choon Keng Liong Wah Huay (三尊宫龙华会), Tiong Sing Sze (天性祠), Hoon Hong Tian Haw Boo ( 云峰天后庙), Hoong Hong Koon Beo and Hup Heng Kwang Beo (云峰古庙及合兴光庙). With the redevelopment of Potong Pasir in 1970s and 1980s, the five temples jointly came together to purchase a plot of land to construct a temple at Ang Mo Kio Street 44, where their current building was completed in 1987. Each temple dedicates and houses different deities, showing a rich and intertwined religious history.

Hoon Hong Tian Haw Boo (云峰天后庙) – Dedicated to the Heavenly Empress also known as Tin Hau (天后), this temple started by early Chinese immigrants who came from Guangxi Province during the early 1900s. The deity Tin Hau statue was first carved from a log that was found floating on a tributary of the River and was initially located at St Michael’s estate before moving to Potong Pasir.

Tiong Sing Tze (天性祠) – Dedicated to the worship of Three Sects (San Jiao) Order Founder, Lin Yao Si, born in Putian, China during the 16th century. It is of no surprise that the temple was first founded by a group of Putian Chinese immigrants. With roots in the San Jiao Order that combines the teachings of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism drawing from the Buddhist concepts of the illusory nature of reality, Confucian moral philosophy and Taoist practices of nurturing the mind and body.

Sam Choon Keng Lion Huay (三尊宫龙华会) – Dedicated to the worship of three buddhas. Originally housed in a residence at Jalan Kolam Ayer, this temple was founded by a grateful devotee after she was miraculously cured of an illness. Grateful for the Gods who healed her health, she set up an altar which is still seen in the current temple today. In 1987, Sam Choon Keng Lion Huay moved into Potong Pasir Joint Temples Association.

Hoong Hong Koon Beo (云峰古庙) and Hup Heng Kwang Beo (合兴光庙) – Comprising two older temples, the Hoon Hong Koon Beo (the mother temple) was first established by Cantonese villagers living in Potong Pasir during the 1930s, dedicated to the worship of diety Tua Pek Kong. Subsequently, some followers using the incense from Hoon Hong Koon Beo set up a branch temple also known as Hup Heng Kwang Beo. Following Taoist tradition, the establishment of branch temples often involves the installation of an urn from the mother

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temple. Faced with land resettlement, both temples decided to merge in light of their shared tradition and incense source and are now located at their current vicinity as part of the Potong Pasir Joint Temple Association.

References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 http://www.beokeng.com/disptemple.php?temple=potong-pasir-joint-temples- association

 http://shgis.nus.edu.sg/shgis_webapps/SSA1208_2016/Reports1/222_Yun%20Feng%20 Gu%20Miao.pdf

Liuxun Sanhemiao Temple (六巡三合庙) Similar to the Potong Pasir Joint Temple association, the Liuxun Sanhemiao Temple (六巡三 合庙) also comprising three temples was formerly located along Road in the early 1980s. With resettlement and redevelopment plans, the temples merged and moved to its current site in Ang Mo Kio Street 63 and current temple that was completed in 1993. All three temples have origins in Quanzhou (泉州), Fujian province, China.

Longxuyan Jinshuiguan Temple (龙须岩金水馆) – Although the exact date of establishment of the temple remains unclear, Longxuyan Jinshuiguan Temple (龙须岩金水馆) was formed through the merger of two temples Longxuyuan (龙须岩) and Jinshuiguan (金水馆). Founded by Ong clansmen in the early 1900s who were Chinese immigrants from Jin An village, Nan’an county (南安) in Fujian province, China. The temple was originally located at Lorong Hablor in Yio Chu Kang's Lak Xun (Liuxun) Village. Today the temple is dedicated to various Taoist dieties such as Pu An Gu Fo (普庵佛祖), Qing Shui Zu Shi (清水祖師宮) and Da De Chan Shi (大德禅师) all who were known to be eminent ascetics in China.

References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 http://www.beokeng.com/disptemple.php?temple=longxuyan-jinshuiguan

Sam Ann Fu (三安府) - Also founded in the early 1900s by the Chen clansmen with origins in Anxi village, Fujian province. Today the temple continues to be a place of worship for patrons whose surname are also Chen. Dedicated to three deities known as the Three Chen Brothers (陈府三兄弟), the temple celebrates the birthdays of its principal deities on the 17th and 18th of the 11th lunar month.

References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 http://shgis.nus.edu.sg/shgis_webapps/SSA1208_2016/Reports1/D2_1183%20liu%20xu n%20san%20he%20miao.pdf

 http://shgis.nus.edu.sg/shgis_webapps/SSA1208_2016/Reports/D1_208.pdf

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Hong San Chin Huat Temple Association (凤山堂进法殿全盛宫) – Comprising three older shrines, Feng Shan Tang (凤山堂), Fa Jin Dian (法进殿), and Quansheng Gong (全盛宫), combined in 1945 to form the Hong San Chin Huat Temple Association. Fa Jin Dian (法进殿) established in 1902 was dedicated to Lord Yang believed to be a geomancer. While Feng Shan Tang (凤山堂) & Quansheng Gong(全盛宫) were dedicated to Lord Zhong and Lord Yu, reported to be former government officials. Lord Zhong was said to be a visiting official to Anxi village and on an official trip to Quan Zhou, he sacrificed his life by drinking poison thereby saving an entire village from a demon’s plague. At the temple’s altar, you will also see a Y-shaped stick dedicated to Lord Yu. Folklore has it that a villager in Lak Xun prayed to Lord Yu to seek healing for his ill sister. Lord Yu, through the spirit medium asked them to cut a branch from a rambutan tree to serve as the deity’s physical form. From then on, the Y- shaped stick was venerated as Lord Yu. Known for its healing powers, villagers would sometimes request a shaving from the stick as medicine. Today, the association still retains their connection with their homeland by organising trips back to the ancestral temples in China.

Fun Fact: Hong San Chin Huat Temple Association also has a notable Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe known as the Singapore Liuxun Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe (新加坡六巡三合庙龙 狮团). The troupe was established in 1996, and has been featured in several articles for their renown and highly praised performances. They have also been active in competitions and have clinched several awards over the years.

References:  Ang Mo Kio: A Heritage Trail

 http://shgis.nus.edu.sg/shgis_webapps/SSA1208_2016/Reports/D1_208.pdf

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