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FROM THE REPORT ON ARCHIVAL RESEARCH JULY 1992 BY DIDIER REPELLIN & RENZO WIEDER, ARCHITECTS INTERNATIONAL PRESERVATION CONSULTANTS 47 AVENUE MARECHAL DE SAXE - 69006 LYON, FRANCE |
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| HISTORY : |
| THE CONVENT OF THE HOLY INFANT JESUS SINGAPORE, IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY |
| At the beginning of the 20th century started the construction of the new neo-gothic chapel which was followed later by the neo-gothic galleries at both sides of the Chapel. The buildings are still predominant on the site and make the C.H.I.J. site an important architectural ensemble in the city. The first chapel of the Convent, which had been built around 1850, was in such a bad condition that it was necessary to build a new one. At the end of the 19th century, the Sisters started the fund-raising by various means for the new chapel. The old one was becoming so dangerous that the Sisters decided to celebrate mass in Caldwell House. |
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| Father Charles-Benedict Nain was engaged as an architect and, on behalf of the Roman Catholic community, was in charge at the same time of the construction of the extension of the boys' school (St Joseph Institution). The construction of the Chapel started in 1901 and it was consecrated in 1904. Father Nain was highly involved in the worksite. He is the author of all the fine architectural details we can still admire in the Chapel. |
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| During this period, the Mother Superior went to Europe to choose the furniture for the Chapel. The stained-glass windows were made by a Belgian artist, Jules Dobbelaere, who worked also for the chapel of St Joseph Institution. |
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| The two-storey galleries, at both sides of the Chapel, were added around 1913 by another architect, Craig, who continued in the same neo-gothic style, with the same quality of details and finishes. The neo-gothic style made a radical change in the general classical concept which was adopted so far, but Father Nain for the Chapel as well as Craig for the galleries, adapted with a great feeling and skill for harmony, the rhythm and the proportions to the existing situation. |
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| There were no more major changes on the site till the nuns left in 1983, except the addition of the new building in the courtyard (1950) (block E) with less architectural significance. |
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