Being established for 82 years, Seletar Tamil Methodist Church (SELTMC) has a rich history. It was established in 1935 by the Rev Subramanian, the Rev S. M. Thevathasam, and the Rev Pakianathan. The first worship venue of the church was at Seletar Airbase, hence its name.
After the British withdrew their forces from Singapore in 1971, SELTMC had to move out of Seletar Airbase as it was handed over to the Singapore Armed Forces. Consequently, the congregation moved over to Abundant Grace Presbyterian Church for their worship services.
Through the years, SELTMC has worshiped in several other locations. These include: Syrian Orthodox Church (1980-1992), Salem Chapel (1996-2005), and St George’s Chapel (from 2005 till present).
The church’s vision is: ‘To grow in His Word, To preach the Gospel, To Transform lives.’ The three aspects of the vision are essential pillars for the growth of the church. We are encouraged to grow in the Word for that would enable us to forge a stronger relationship with our Lord and Saviour. Next, as ambassadors of Christ, we are tasked to preach the Good News to the lost so that they too would be able to taste the sweetness of God. Lastly, Christ’s Great Commission compels us to work hard in transforming lives and making disciples of Christ.
Two key ministries in SELTMC are Evangelism and Social Concerns.
On 6 May 2012, SELTMC started a preaching point at Bedok. Every Wednesday, the evangelism team goes out to invite Indians living near Bedok to attend the preaching point. The Lord has indeed blessed the efforts of the evangelism team, as there has been tremendous growth in the preaching point’s congregation.
Meanwhile, the Social Concerns Ministry aims at reaching out to underprivileged individuals in society by providing them with both financial and emotional support. Upon identifying the essential needs of low-income families, the Social Concerns team heads over to their residence and provides them with welfare packs. Additionally, the team makes regular visits to homes for the elderly and spends quality time with the homes’ residents.
Since SELTMC does not have a building of its own, our congregation has worshipped at several locations over the course of 82 years, and thus our members come from a variety of districts that include Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, and Serangoon. Despite having to move to St George’s Chapel located at Changi, our church members continue to stay united and are willing to travel further than usual. They, together with our pioneer members, have witnessed God’s marvelous ways in sustaining SELTMC.
Just as Ephesians 1:22-23 reads, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (NIV), God is the head of SELTMC, and the church members earnestly seek His direction and His will in the growth of the church that He has graciously blessed us with. To God be the Glory!
Seletar Tamil Methodist Church
(Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference)
63 Cranwell Road, Singapore 509851
Sunday Service:
8.00 a.m. Tamil
Bedok Preaching Point
c/o Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church, 300 Bedok North Avenue 3, Singapore 469717
Genesis Room, 1-06
Sunday Service:
6.00 p.m. Tamil
Contact us:
Website: www.seletartmc.org
Deborah David –
is a member of Seletar Tamil Methodist Church.
Church Building
Seletar Tamil Methodist Church members visiting residents at Bethany Methodist Nursing Home
Photos courtesy of Seletar Tamil Methodist Church