Our Story

Vision

To be a disciple-making church

Mission

That every member be committed to Magnify God, Multiply Disciples and Minister to All Peoples in Singapore and beyond

The Pioneer Work at Fairfield

In 1936, Rev. and Mrs. H.F. Kuehn (Mrs. Kuehn’s maiden name was Miss Mabel Harb) pioneered the work which led to the planting of Fairfield Methodist Church (to confirm if it was Fairfield Congregation or MC). They went home on furlough in July 1941 and could only return to Singapore after World War II ended.

They resumed their work when Fairfield Girls’ School reopened, and continued until 1948. When they returned to their home in Texas, U.S.A. in 1948, Mr S.T. Peter Lim continued to pastor the Fairfield Congregation with the help of his sister, Poh Luan.

Appointment of Rev. Kuehn to the Fairfield Congregation

At the Joint Session of Malaya Annual Conference and Malaya Chinese Annual Conference held at Wesley Methodist Church, Singapore in August 1946, Rev. Kuehn was appointed as Elder and Mr S.T. Peter Lim as Supply Pastor to oversee the Ministry of the Word to the Fairfield Congregation.

Prior to this appointment, Rev. Kuehn was principal of the Malayan Methodist Seminary, predecessor of Trinity Theological College.

Fairfield Congregation becomes a Local Church

The Fairfield Congregation was constituted as a Local Church on 1 February 1948 when Rev. Kuehn baptised 6 young men, who had attended baptism class in 1947. The 6 new converts were received into church membership with 14 believers, who transferred from other churches. These 20 became Founder Members of Fairfield Methodist Church or members of the Constituting Church Conference. Rev. Dr. M. Dodsworth chaired the Constituting Church Conference on 1 February 1948.

Fairfield Methodist Church moved to its current location at 1 Tanjong Pagar Road in 1986.

Being Christ’s Light in the City

After moving into the new premises, Fairfield actively sowed seeds of love, compassion and care to Chinatown residents. Our Cantonese Service was started in 1987 to meet the needs of the non-English speakers in the neighbourhood. In the same year, the church began running its annual Christmas in Chinatown concerts to bring the real story of Christmas to our community. Church members also regularly visited block residents to bless them.

In 1996, Yong-en Care Centre was formally established, initially based within the church building and moved to Block 335A Smith Street in 2000.

From 2001-2004, the church was actively involved in blessing our neighbours beyond residents—visiting hawker centres to bless stall owners during festive seasons. In 2006, a group of Chinese nationals watched our Christmas in Chinatown concert and became very interested in the Gospel, following our pastoral staff back to the church and receiving Jesus as their Lord and Saviour there and then. In 2007, the China Nationals Ministry was formed.

That kindled the start of our ministry to the migrant workers—Chinese Nationals Service on Sunday evenings, a Saturday Mandarin Service which has become a Sunday service, and a Fellowship for Injured Migrant Workers on Tuesdays.

In 2018, our lunch-time ministry City Connect was started to welcome diners from nearby Maxwell Food Centre, looking for respite from the heat.

As a city church at the crossroads of Chinatown, CBD and residences in downtown Singapore, we recognise the calling to be distinct and visible, as Christ’s light in Singapore and beyond.

Read through Fairfield’s Core Values that guide our ministry.