Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is my privilege to welcome you to Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street — we are a congregation with a rich spiritual heritage and a clear gospel calling in the heart of our city. For generations, this church has stood as a testimony to God’s faithfulness, nurturing believers through Scripture, worship, fellowship, and prayer.
Our vision is shaped by Acts 2:42–47, where the early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. This biblical pattern continues to guide us.
We are devoted to the Word of God. As a Methodist church rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, we affirm Scripture as our supreme authority in faith and practice. Through Christ-centered preaching, disciplined discipleship, and intentional teaching ministries, we seek to form believers who live holy and faithful lives in today’s world. Our aim is not simply attendance, but transformation — hearts shaped by grace and lives marked by obedience.
We are devoted to fellowship. Tamil Methodist Church is not merely a place of worship; it is a covenant family. Across generations — children, youth, young adults, families, and seniors — we journey together in faith. In a rapidly changing society, we remain anchored in our spiritual heritage while engaging the present with wisdom and compassion. We intentionally care for one another, bearing burdens and celebrating God’s blessings together.
We are devoted to the breaking of bread. Holy Communion stands at the center of our worship life, reminding us that we are one body in Christ. Our worship reflects reverence, heartfelt devotion, and the richness of Tamil Christian expression, honoring both tradition and spiritual vitality.
We are devoted to prayer. Prayer is not an addition to our ministry — it is its foundation. As we seek God together, we depend on the Holy Spirit to guide our leadership, strengthen our families, and empower our witness.
Situated at Short Street, we see ourselves as called to serve both our congregation and the wider community. Our desire is to be a faithful light in the city — proclaiming Christ, discipling believers, mentoring the next generation, and extending compassion in practical ways.
If you are seeking a Methodist church where Christ is central and community is genuine, we warmly invite you to join us. There is a place here for you to belong, to grow, and to serve.
Rev James Nagulan graduated from the TTC (Singapore) in 1997 and began his pastoral ministry as MOT in ETAC and subsequently as pastor in charge in various ETAC churches. He is currently appointed to Tamil Methodist Church and Seletar Tamil Methodist Church as pastor- in-charge; he serves as the District Superintendent and the Chairman Board of Ministry in ETAC.
In 2004, Rev James Nagulan (36 years old), was elected as the President of ETAC; and was re-elected in the consequent two quadrennium, thus serving all three terms.
He completed Masters in Christian Leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky USA. Rev Nagulan also serves as the President of Fellowship of Indian Denominational Churches.
Rev James Nagulan’s wife, Kalaimathi, a teacher, partners with him in his pastoral ministry. They have three children – Noel, Naomi and Nathanael.
He is an avid sportsman. He regularly walks, cycles for a healthy lifestyle.
Shalom,
Rev James Nagulan
Rev Jesudoss Charles answered God’s call to full-time ministry after many years in the corporate sector. He completed BSC in Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary and MM at Trinity Theological College, Singapore, and began serving in the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2022.
After serving at Jurong Tamil Methodist Church and Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church, he stepped into full-time pastoral ministry in January 2024. He is currently serving the congregations of Short Street Tamil Methodist Church and Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church, with a heart to shepherd, teach God’s Word, and nurture spiritual growth in the Church.
Our traditional English service engages worshippers through the singing of hymns in the Wesleyan tradition, prayer, the reading of scripture and psalms, and is centred on a biblical message shared by our Pastors. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month.
Our Tamil service observes the traditional order of service and includes the singing of Tamil songs ranging from traditional to contemporary. Singspiration and the sharing of testimonies are held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, while Holy Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month.
The IFF Evening Service is an evangelistic service for the migrant Indian community in Singapore. Services are centred on biblical teaching and heartfelt worship. Holy Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month.
The first Tamil Methodist Church was established with Rev Underwood as its Pastor in 1887. This then became the 2nd Methodist Church in Singapore.
God laid the foundation for the Tamil Methodist Church in Singapore when in 1884, the South Indian Annual Conference appointed William F Oldham as a Missionary to Singapore. Oldham, accompanied by Rev and Mrs James Thoburn, arrived in Singapore on 7 Feb 1885, to pioneer the Methodist work here. A Tamil speaking Englishman, William Oldham had a strong yearning to bring the Gospel to the Indians in Singapore. In September 1885, with his fluency in Tamil, Oldham began holding regular Sunday services in the prisons for the incarcerated Tamil prisoners. By the end of 1886, regular Sunday and weekday services were being held in Tamil.
In 1887, a Tamil preacher, C W Underwood, was recruited from Jaffna, Ceylon, to work with the Tamil people. The Tamil Methodist Church was thus established with Underwood as her pastor. This then became the second Methodist Church in Singapore. Rev Underwood was instrumental in starting the Tamil Boys School in 1885 and Tamil Girls’ School (now known as Methodist Girls’ School) in 1887.
By 1889, the congregation grew too large for its chapel and moved to Short Street. In 1912, the Epworth League (now known as the Methodist Youth Fellowship) was established. The church embarked on a program of financial selfsufficiency and launched its building fund in 1915 towards its efforts to build a church on a piece of land in Short Street. In 1925, the foundation stone for the new church was laid by Bishop Titus Lowe.
TMC is the mother-church of seven other churches of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC). Missionaries have been sent to the Indian sub- continent, the Americas and Africa.
After 1925 when the church premises were completed, the church then turned its attention to evangelistic work in the Pasir Panjang area and constituted the Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church from a preaching point in 1927. The first Methodist Church was also constituted in Johor under the pastoral care of Rev Pakianathan, TMC’s pastor at that time. It was during this time when evangelism amongst the Tamil Christians in Seletar Naval Base began. Preaching points in Seletar and Sembawang were then constituted as churches in 1935 and 1937 respectively.
Rev T R Doraisamy, who ministered between 1951 and 1954, was instrumental in ministering to the Hindustani congregation which in 1953 matured into the Punjabi Church. He went on to become the first Tamil Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaysia.
Rev Prabhu Das Roberts became pastor in 1969 for the next 27 years and it was during this time when the church sent out a number of missionsaries in various mission fields.
In the 70s and 80s, members offered their houses as places of worship and house churches were started in Jurong, Ang Mo Kio, Marsling, and Toa Payoh. These house churches were eventually constituted as churches in 1977 , 1980, and 1982 respectively.
Rev R Prabhu, who pastored TMC between 2002 and 2003 pioneered the Telugu Fellowship . What started out as 4 members grew into a formally constituted church in 2008 with hundreds of regular attendees at Sunday evening services.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come; be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.
William F Oldham arrives in Singapore with Rev & Mrs. Thoburn, sent by the South India Annual Conference and starts meeting with a group of Indians on Saturdays, and also begins to hold regular services in the prison on Sundays for Tamil prisoners.
The first formal Tamil Methodist worship service is held: a Tamil Methodist congregation – the Tamil Methodist Society – is formed with Rev C W Underwood, a Tamil preacher from Jaffna, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), as pastor.
Rev Underwood undertakes the church’s first missionary trip as he visits Tamil workers in sugar plantations in Perak, Malaya (now Malaysia).
Funds are raised for an inexpensive parsonage costing $2,000 in Serangoon Road, opposite the present Kandang Kerbau Market on a piece of land which had previously been occupied by a Hindu temple.ev Underwood undertakes the church’s first missionary trip as he visits Tamil workers in sugar plantations in Perak, Malaya (now Malaysia).
The first Tamil Quarterly (now, Local) Conference is held.
The Women’s Foreign Missionary Society engages a Tamil Bible Woman to evangelise to Tamil women.
The Epworth League (later, Methodist Youth Fellowship) is started with 43 members. It soon attracts several students from the Medical School.
The members decide to purchase the land at Short Street (front half of the present site) and build a church on it to meet their growing needs.
The new building, comprising the Sanctuary, a hall and a parsonage, is completed. Address: No. 1 (later, No. 14), Short Street. Rev. S. S. Pakianathan pastors the church.
TMC starts Pasir Panjang preaching point at Alexandra Brickworks. The Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church is constituted in 1972. Pastoral leadership is given by Rev. M R Doraisamy.
TMC starts Seletar preaching point at RAF Seletar Base which is later constituted as Seletar Tamil Methodist Church.
TMC starts Sembawang preaching point at Sembawang Naval Base. The Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church is constituted that year.
Rev (later, Bishop) T R Doraisamy is appointed the pastor and later becomes the first Tamil Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaya.
The Batak congregation begins worshipping at the church premises.
Bilingual (Tamil and English) worship services replace the separate Tamil and English worship services. Introduced by Rev R. Prabhu Das to step the falling membership. Vacation Bible School is introduced.
Outreach work begins at Jurong; the preaching point is constituted as Jurong Tamil Methodist Church in 1977.
“The Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore is constituted into separate national churches: The Methodist Church in Malaysia and The Methodist Church in Singapore. The Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference – (ETAC) is constituted. Evangelistic Outreach work begins in the Ang Mo Kio neighbourhood; house-church services conducted by Rev Prabhu Das. AMKTC is constituted in 1980”
“TMC applies to the Commissioner of Lands for the alienation of the land behind the church for an extension project. Evangelistic Outreach work begins at Toa Payoh; the preaching point is constituted as a church in 1982.”
The Commissioner of Lands offers the land to TMC for the Building Project. The church starts an evening Tamil service.
TMC temporarily moves to the school hall of the Christ Church, Dorset Road, which has been made to resemble the Sanctuary at Short Street.
The new building is completed and the premises are renumbered “No. 8, Short Street”. We celebrate the Moving-in Service, as we return to Short Street.
A ministry among Indian nationals is started by members of the church.
The group starts to take shape with more volunteers joining and the Foreign Indian Friends’ Fellowship is officially formed. The new Sanctuary and building are consecrated by Bishop Ho Chee Sin at the church’s 106th Anniversary Thanksgiving service.
Telugu services, with Rev. Prabhu, providing the leadership, with a few members, provide worship for the Telugu-speaking Indian Nationals.
The Sinhala Fellowship ministry is started by members of the church.
Telugu Methodist Church, the 8th church in ETAC is constituted, during the pastorate of Rev Nagulan James.
TAMIL METHODIST CHURCH CELEBRATED 125 YEARS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS (From Year 1887 to 2012.) Do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:14)
ARISE Service started in year 2018 by Rev James Nagulan, for those who desire a worship experience in a less traditional manner. Especially for our youths to enjoy contemporary form of worship. ARISE service still has the same passion for drawing people together in faithful worship to God that is a unique characteristic of TMC.</p> <p>Serve our local community by gathering and distributing food to those in need. Build relationships with a cross-section of people in our neighborhood and beyond and reflect the caring heart of Jesus. As part of The Giving Methodist MCS, TMC Women’s Society of Christian Service, in partnership with Methodist Welfare Service, Kampong Glam Kelantan RC and Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference reached out to families in need on 24th March & 15th Sept 2018.
In early 2020, the first cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) were reported in Singapore March 2020. Tamil Methodist Church suspended worship services to help ``break the chain`` of COVID-19 infection. We continue to minister and come together every Sunday through online worship service through recordings. We reached an unavoidable and painful decision to suspend Holy Communion until Church reopen.</p> <p>April 2020 – May 2020 All Church Premises closed during Covid-19 Circuit Breaker (7th April – 4th May 2020) August 2020 Safe Reopening of Church Service on 2nd August 2020. Prepacked Communion consecrated by Pastors and served. Only 50 Person can attend each service excluding volunteers.
TMC is affiliated to the following organizations:
The MCS is the body that provides connection between the Methodist churches in Singapore across 3 conferences – the Trinity Annual Conference, the Chinese Annual Conference, and the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference. TMC is firmly rooted in Wesleyan Theology owing to its establishment as a pioneer in Methodist work.
The ETAC is made up of eight churches located strategically across the island of Singapore. It is through this organization that TMC receives pastoral appointments. TMC also partners with ETAC to engage in ministries like missions exposure trips, Festivals of Praise, discipleship seminars, youth engagement programs and much more.
The Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) is one of the three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). Its teachings, goals, aims and administrative system are consistent with those of the local churches and Annual Conferences within the MCS.
God has indeed been faithful to us since 1887 and he will continue to bless our Church. We give all glory and honour to our God for his blessings and provisions and thank all members who have tithed regularly and given sacrificially in the financial year.
The financial stewardship of the Church is entrusted to the Finance Committee, appointed in accordance with Methodist polity and church governance guidelines. The Committee comprises the Finance Chairperson, Treasurer, appointed committee members, the LCEC Chairperson, and the Pastor-in-Charge. Together, they oversee the responsible administration of all financial matters of the Church.
All income and expenditure are carefully monitored, properly authorized, and systematically recorded using the Church’s designated accounting system. Financial records are maintained with diligence and integrity at the Church office to ensure transparency, accountability, and accuracy in reporting.
The Church conducts its financial affairs in full compliance with prevailing government charity regulations and established Church policies. A comprehensive monthly financial report is prepared and presented to the Local Church Executive Committee (LCEC) at its scheduled meetings for review and governance oversight.
The Church’s financial year runs from August to July. At the commencement of each financial year, an annual budget outlining projected income and expenditure is prayerfully prepared by the Finance Committee. The proposed budget is subsequently reviewed and approved by the LCEC to ensure alignment with the Church’s ministry objectives and mission priorities.
At the close of each financial year, an independent external auditor is appointed to conduct a thorough audit of the Church’s accounts. Upon completion, the audited financial statements are submitted to the relevant government charity authority in accordance with statutory requirements. These statements are also made available for public access on the official charity website, reflecting the Church’s commitment to openness and responsible stewardship.
Through faithful financial governance, the Church seeks to honour God, uphold public trust, and steward the resources entrusted to us for the advancement of Christ’s mission.
Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street in Singapore is committed to safeguarding the personal data entrusted to the church by its members and non-members.
Tamil Methodist Church strives to manage the individual’s personal data in accordance with Singapore Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (No. 26 of 2012) (referred as “PDPA”) and other applicable written laws.
The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework for the Personal Data Protection measures to be followed and applied while dealing with the personal data related to the functioning of the church.
Tamil Methodist Church is situated centrally at 8 Short Street, in the Rochor area. We welcome you to come and worship with us and be a part of our community. We are committed to reaching out and serving others through a variety of programs and activities.
In consideration of the use of the church facilities requested, I confirm the following: