The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was constructed in 1888. This is the first Tamil Catholic church in Singapore. Its design is modelled after the original church at Lourdes, France.
Many architectural historians attribute this building to Swan & Maclaren, but it was more probably designed by a priest–architect, such as Father Nain, as many other Catholic buildings in Singapore were at the time. It could not have been executed by Swan & Maclaren, to whom it is often attributed, as the partnership was not formed until 1893, at which time the building was completed. More than likely the plans were submitted by A.W. Lermit of Swan & Lermit.

Today, the Church is used, up to a point, for the purpose for which it was built, i.e. as a worshipping place for Tamil Catholics. However, over the last decade, and in the interests of a multi-racial nation, it has welcomed Catholics of all races. Masses are held in English, Tamil and Singhalese.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was gazetted as a national monument on 14 January 2005.