After a year and a half of closure, Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) re-opened its sanctuary on 13 July 2025 for church services. Church members and well- wishers were treated to a refreshed sanctuary, the culmination of the work of a team of architects, lighting engineers, acoustic design specialists and audio-visual consultants.
In late 2023, some of the false ceiling panels at the BRMC sanctuary had fallen off (when the sanctuary was not in use), prompting the closure of the sanctuary from December 2023 due to safety concerns. The panels were around 20 years old and found to be degrading rapidly.
The church leadership decided to take the opportunity to extensively overhaul the building to enhance its accessibility, seating capacity and acoustics. In addition, the walkways and drainage systems were rectified while audio-visual capabilities were upgraded to cater for enhanced livestreaming of future worship services at the sanctuary.
To celebrate the occasion, BRMC dedicated the restored sanctuary at its Sunday worship services, which were graced by Bishop Philip Lim, who also preached.
With the sanctuary filled to the brim, the service began with Pastor-in-Charge Rev Dr Wendy Watson, sharing the epitaph of Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham: “End of construction—Thank you for your patience.” Rev Dr Watson shared that there is still much work to be done even as the sanctuary reopens, and gave thanks to the many people who contributed to its rebuilding.
While she expressed her fears of the week before as “chaos … and feelings of despair as whether we would make it here today”, she felt comforted by God who reminded her that “we are all work in progress”. Although “life comes with uncertainty, with messiness, with discomfort, sometimes with chaos”, the Lord assures us that he is making something beautiful out of this apparent messiness.
The sermon by Bishop Lim took inspiration from Nehemiah 2:12–20. Likening the newly-renovated sanctuary to the process of the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, Bishop Lim praised the “gracious hand of my God” that helped to lead the renovations as the sanctuary was restored from ruins (Nehemiah 2:8 NIV). He also reminded the congregation that the church—like the wall— does not belong to one person or a select few, but is for everyone (Nehemiah 3). Additionally, he challenged the congregation to have their names on the list of builders of the church by stepping up and getting involved in its continued growth. Finally, using the rebuilding of the church as a metaphor for the rebuilding of our own hearts, Bishop Lim exhorted the congregation to rededicate their lives to Jesus—loving and experiencing him in a deeper way.
After the sermon, a prayer for the dedication of the renovated sanctuary was led by Bishop Lim, who was joined by Rev Dr Watson, as well as representatives from the staff team and the lay leadership. In unison, they and the congregation prayed that the church be an everlasting foundation of prayer and praise, family life, the conversion of sinners and the unity of the faith. The traditional service ended on a resounding note with the Hymn of Dedication, “The Church’s One Foundation”, which reminds us of the hope of future glory and Christ as the foundation of the Church. At the contemporary service, the congregation closed rousingly with the song, “Shine Jesus Shine”, expressing the desire that BRMC would be the light of Christ.
With this renovated sanctuary now built up, BRMC will be moving into its Year of Release, to build up a church culture that reflects the heart of God, to become a people who bring the light of Jesus into the darkness of the world.
For more information about worship services at Barker Road Methodist Church, visit https://www.brmc.org.sg/.
Elliot Soh is a Sub-Editor of Methodist Message and worships at Barker Road Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Zoe Collective and Moving Stills Photography