When Singapore war hero Lim Bo Seng fled from Singapore during World War Two, his wife Gan Choo Neo held the fort at home and prayed every night with her six children for his safety.

In the harrowing days of war, the young mother would read the Bible, sing hymns to her children and pray with them at bedtime.

Lim, who was eventually captured and died a hero in the hands of the Japanese, left a legacy of courage enshrined in a war memorial in Singapore.

His wife Choo Neo built an even more enduring legacy – children who trusted God in any storm. 

The story of Gan Choo Neo, wife of war hero Lim Bo Seng, who left an enduring legacy of faith in God in her children. Photo courtesy of the National Library Board.

“While father is a public hero, mother is to us our private heroine,” two of their children Leow Oon Geok and Dr Lim Whye Geok recounted in the book Days of Darkness, Days of Light, a historical compilation by The Methodist Church of stories during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore.

“We learnt from our experiences to be resolute in our faith in God in whatever circumstances.”

This was one of the lesser-known accounts unearthed by tour guide Alvin Chia on the Changi Fire Trail, a bus journey through eight different locations tracing the legacy of Christian faith built by heroes and families of faith in the war-torn years. 

“I wanted the tour to encourage Christians to cling on to faith during circumstances far beyond our control,” said Alvin, an avid historian who researched and developed the trail. 

Christian Heritage Trails is open for private bookings through chtrails@ventures.me

Two heritage trails, one spiritual legacy 

The Changi Fire Trail is one of two history trails highlighting cornerstones of the Christian faith in Singapore in the last 200 years. Covering the years 1935 to 1965, the tour highlights the faithfulness of God during the dark days of World War Two.

“It was inspirational and forced me to reflect on my own commitment to following God,” said Ben Cassim, 63. 

Bringing his experience and insights in facilitating family prayer trails, Changi Fire Trail guide Alvin Chia invites tour participants to discern God’s heart at each location and to pray together.

Bringing to the trail his experience and insights in facilitating family prayer trails, Alvin invites individuals on the tour to discern God’s heart at each location, and to pray together as a community for the future of Singapore.

“It is an awesome experience to pray on an actual historical site together as a family of believers,” said visitor Lina Woo, 68.

The brainchild of Jason Wong (founder of the Yellow Ribbon Project, Dads for Life and One for Jesus), Christian Heritage Trails is an initiative by a group of like-minded men keen to make known the story of how God has built the foundation of faith in Singapore.

“Many of us have gone to or are planning to go to the Holy Land to discover the origins of the Church,” Jason told Salt&Light. “Yet the majority of us have little awareness of how the Gospel came to our shores around 200 years ago.”

He continued: “How did these men and missionaries receive the call to travel from the West to the East? What were the challenges they faced? What did the early churches look like and where are they located? That’s how the Christian Heritage Trails idea came about.”

The other trail – the City Trail – covers the first 100 years of Church history in Singapore from 1819 to 1919. Developed and led by retired church history enthusiast Rev Malcolm Tan, who was a Pastor for 40 years with The Methodist Church in Singapore, the trail features 11 stops, each a significant milestone in the journey of Christian faith in Singapore.

For example, the Raffles Hotel area along North Bridge Road used to be the site of the earliest Protestant mission in Singapore under the London Missionary Society. Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church goes back to the Ministry of Benjamin Peach Keasberry and the earliest Methodist Malay Chapel – a striking yellow building along Middle Road. It was there that the Tamil Girls School became the Methodist Girls School.

“Many other places all tell the story of God’s hand at work in our nation,” Ps Malcolm related to Salt&Light. 

Led by Rev Malcolm Tan (fifth from right) and Alvin Chia (6th from right), an avid historian, Christian Heritage Trails traces key milestones in the Church history of Singapore.

“This trail is essential learning if you’re Singaporean and a believer of Jesus,” said Li-Na, who participated in the City Trail. “If you allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you walk and listen, you start to see a purpose behind being born and saved in Singapore.” 

“I hope this present generation and the next generation will learn the important lessons of history so we will be better prepared for the possible challenges of the future,” Ps Malcolm added. “Moreover, the past has much to teach us, if we only care to listen.” 

Christian Heritage Trails information

1. City Trail (3km walking tour)

First 100 Years: How Everything Started
Story of Early Protestantism in Singapore (1819-1919)

Highlights:

• London Missionary Society (LMS Chapel)
• Early Pioneers of evangelism in the Chinese, Indian, Malay and Eurasian communities
• Bible mission and mission schools

Group size: 20-30 pax

Guide: Rev Dr Malcolm Tan
Dr Malcolm experienced as a school boy in Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) the 1972 ACS Clock Tower Revival. He later became a Methodist Pastor for 40 years, serving also as Chair of the Council on Archives and History for the Methodist Church for almost 10 years. Dr Malcolm’s Ph.D. from the National University of Singapore included Historiography in the History department. Passionate about the story of the Church, he has published a book on the charismatic renewals in Singapore.

Christian Heritage Trails is open for private bookings for both trails. For enquiries and bookings, contact chtrails@ventures.me

2. Changi Fire Trail (bus tour)

War Years: Pre-war to present
Exploring the Legacy of Faith through the Darkness of War (1935-1948)  

Highlights:

• Pre-war revival: John Sung, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church
• Families of faith: Lim Bo Seng, St Andrew’s Cathedral
• Faith in adversity: Changi Chapel and Museum, Changi University

Group Size: 20 or 40 pax

Guide: Alvin Chia
Alvin Chia is an avid historian responsible for developing Sentosa’s attractions and physical assets during more than 30 years of service, including the creation of heritage trails capturing hidden stories of Sentosa. Alvin brings to this trail his experience and insights in facilitating family prayer trails and bespoke historical tours for VIPs at locations such as the National Gallery museum, the city gallery of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore, as well as Changi Chapel and Museum.

Christian Heritage Trails is open for private bookings for both trails. For enquiries and bookings, contact chtrails@ventures.me

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