SINGAPORE - It provided refuge for 300 people during World War II, including serving as a “secret dungeon” where a number of women and children were hidden from the Japanese.

The 136-year-old Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church buffered its walls to ward off stray bullets and bombs, and its bell would chime to warn everyone of air raids. It was also designated as a medical post and air raid shelter where first aid medical auxiliary services were deployed.

On Sept 13, the church unveiled its new heritage gallery, which is co-funded by the National Heritage Board’s major project grant, to share its storied past.

The launch coincides with Singapore’s 60th year of independence and the church building’s centennial anniversary in 2025.

The gallery’s opening also marked the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in Singapore. On September 12 in 1945, following Japan’s announcement of surrender on Aug 15 that same year, the Japanese formally surrendered in Singapore. This marked the end of the occupation, which had begun in February 1942.

The gallery, spread across the four storeys of the church, houses over 200 items. These include pre-war, wartime and post-war documents such as baptism, marriage, and death certificates, WWII artefacts like a helmet from the First Aid Party and other medical auxiliary services. Additionally, it features items recovered from a

100-year-old time capsule which was unearthed in