In Uniquely Singapore, it was stated that in 1825, Father Francisco da Silva e Maia founded the Portuguese Mission on the site of the present St Joseph's Church. In Wikipedia, it stated that Father Francisco arrived from Goa and when he died in 1850, he had left money and land on which to build a small church. His funds was augmented by a gift from the King of Portugal and the original church called Sao Hose was built by Reverend Vincente de Sante Catharina who succeeded Father Francisco. Construction work on the Sao Jose (Saint Jose / St Joseph) began in 1851 and completed in 1853
St Joseph's Church is probably the first Catholic place of worship in Singapore. Construction began in 1906 and the church was completed in 1912. In 1906 Sao Hose was pulled down to build the present day St Joseph's Church. The church was built by a firm called Swan and Maclaren
The design of the church is called Gothic style. Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. According to Wikipedia, the Gothic style evolved from the Romanesque architecture which was then succeeded by the Renaissance architecture
Gothic architecture is also known as French style. The characteristic features of Gothic style are the pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress. The pointed arch is said in Wikipedia to have had its origins in Ancient Assyrian architecture where it is found in a number of structures as early as 720BC. Pointed arches are also found in Islamic architecture
According to Wikipedia, Gothic architecture is most familiar as architecture of many great cathedrals, abbeys and parish churches of Europe. It is also the architecture of many castles, palaces, town halls, guild halls and universities
Another iconic feature of Gothic architecture is height. Its central octagonal tower capped with a dome rises high and is flanked by two smaller towers
And another feature is light as can be attested to by the expansive stained glass windows seen at St Joseph's Church
St Joseph's Church was gazetted a Singapore National Monument on 14 January 2005
Check out more Gothic architectural info from Wikipedia (subject: St Joseph's Church Singapore)
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