This present building of St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, was constructed only in 1983. A parish of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Kerala, India, the church’s history in Singapore began in the early 20th century, when the British started building large-scale military installations. Large numbers of Indians migrated to Singapore to work in these installations. Among them were Malayalees from Kerala, some of whom were Orthodox Syrian Christians.
The first locally held Holy Qurbana, a rite observed by Orthodox Syrian Christians, was recorded in March 1928. As the number of worshippers increased, a church building became necessary. In 1953, a piece of land was purchased at Topaz Road and the completed church was consecrated on 27 December 1959.
The church continued to grow till the withdrawal of British military troops in 1971, whereupon many Indians returned to their homeland, including a number of Orthodox Syrian Christians. As such, the church’s congregation decreased to 65 families from 250 families.
In 1979, the land at Topaz Road was acquired by the government for the development of the Pan Island Expressway. The church purchased its current site in 1980 and the new church building was consecrated on 18 December 1983. Membership increased steadily and the church was granted Cathedral status in 1997.
Aspects of the church’s Kerala heritage can still be seen today. The Holy Qurbana is held every Sunday in Malayalam, the official language in Kerala, and English. Onam, the harvest festival in Kerala, is also celebrated with a vegetarian feast.