One of the first churches to be built after WW2, the Novena church is today a landmark with its neo-classical semi-circular pediment and central stained glass window. The church lends its name to the area such as roads (Jalan Novena Barat and Novena Terrace), buildings (Novena Ville and Novena Gardens), and even the MRT station!
The Church of St Alphonsus, commonly known as the Novena Church, is dedicated to Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori of Italy. The novenas are a mission given by Pope Pious IX to the Redemptorist fathers to make Our Lady of Perpetual Succour well known throughout the world.
The Redemptorists were already working in Asia as far back as the 1920s and the first temporary church was located where Thomson Medical Centre stands today. The search for a new home began in 1945 and in 1948, the Redemptorists community bought over this plot of land from Chinese businessman, Wee Kah Kiat who was also on the Board of Trustees for the Singapore Improvement Trust. Novena Church was built by 1950 and the popular Saturday novenas began in January 1949 and were heavily publicised in 1951. To cope with the expanding congregation over the years, many additions were added to the original church building. In recent years, the old Administrative Building was torn down in 1997 and the modern St. Clement Pastoral Centre was built. Pews were later added to the verandas in 1998 to increase the seating capacity.