Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future: The Discovery of a Century-Old Time Capsule

Time capsules serve as a bridge between generations, offering a tangible connection to the past. The unearthing of a century-old time capsule in February this year, by Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TACMC) located at 235 Telok Ayer Street, had provided, not just a relic of the past, but an invaluable glimpse into the spiritual and cultural heritage of the 135-year-old, first and oldest Chinese Methodist church in Singapore, urging its fold to uphold the values and faith that have been passed down to current and future generations.
The 100-year-old time capsule, measuring 30 cm by 30 cm by 5 cm, is a metal box filled with ten artefacts, and was discovered during restoration works at TACMC. It contained a Bible, a hymnal and meeting minutes—each a testament to the faith and dedication of the Chinese Methodist community in the early 20th century – and a Chinese translation of the 1784 version of The Methodist Book of Discipline which reflects a commitment to living out the principles of the Christian faith. The Bible, in Chinese and printed in China, and the 1919 pocket-sized hymnal, offered insights into the liturgies and socio-political climate of the time. The minutes of the conference and the finance committee, along with the Book of Hymns and Liturgy containing 409 hymns in Chinese (lyrics only), are particularly intriguing as they offer a direct insight into the church’s operations and spiritual life in the early 20th century. These documents reveal the challenges faced by the church’s founders and the liturgical practices of the time, providing a rich context for how our faith has evolved. They also included highlights of the church’s role in education, with ties to institutions like the Anglo-Chinese School and Methodist Girls’ School.


The discovery resonated with the local church community, especially The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) and Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) and beyond, serving as a powerful reminder of the enduring nature of faith. It underscores the importance of preserving history and the role it plays in guiding future generations. The capsule has stirred the hearts of all its language congregations with more than 100 on ‘live’ Zoom that day when it was extracted and unveiled. The discovery has prompted reflections on the legacy that current members wish to leave behind. Rev Edmund Koh’s words to The Straits Times encapsulate this sentiment, “I hope the capsule’s discovery and extraction will inspire the church’s current generation of members to, like their forefathers, ‘leave a beautiful legacy for those who come behind us.’” In the words of Elvin Tay, the Chairperson of TACMC’s English congregation, said, “The capsule signifies the love to the church and the desires of their hearts to share with the generations to come, and reminds us that the church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord. The intention and thought of the forefathers put in is a reminder for us to continue the journey of faith.” Amanda Chan, a member of the archives committee, shared that, “it was an electrifying moment when the first cut into the wall was made to extract the metal box”. She said, “I memorised that moment in my heart. I was tasked with the handling of the artefacts and it was a task that I handled with great humility and trepidation, because it connected me to the good men and women of that time and their manifestation of faithfulness and obedience to God.” Evelyn Tham, a second generation and member from the Mandarin congregation, recalled that this was her home church since she was 11 years old and felt the honour to witness the extraction because it is a piece of history that is so precious to her. The words of retired Rev Dr Daniel Lee Kok Peng, who still serves at TACMC’s English Service, resonate deeply, reminding us that “the Bible, hymns and church discipline are foundational to the Christian faith. They represent the truth of God, the essence of worship, and the commandment to love one another.” The President of CAC, Rev Dr Gregory Goh was heartened that, “the hymnal was included to reflect the enriching church life and faith community and how they had practised their faith.” He said that church-goers then could not have received any education and that they had learnt to read Chinese characters from these hymns and memorised these songs over time. He also said that it was not easy to keep to the liturgies and important traditions, and the financial reports reflect the accountability and financial prudence in governance during those times, and which carried on as part of the Methodist discipline and legacy.


It was awe-inspiring and humbling to see how our forefathers and founders of TACMC had deliberately and intentionally planned with great caution, the precise placement and engineering of the time capsule with the ten items stored in a steel box, back in 1925. The process of uncovering the capsule involved the careful removal of surface mortar, guided by radar scans and ground-penetrating radar. Fragments of concrete and mortar wrapped around the capsule are of historical significance and would undergo further analysis. State archaeologists told us that the preservation of these items in such good condition was in part due to the fact that the paper material used for the items, were made of stable cotton from Western Europe, with other items being China-printed using paper material that Singapore had no paper mills to produce then. The artefacts were also placed in a made-to-measure brazed steel box soldered together, and left to rest on acid-free paper, where they laid niftily without any gaps as if the capsule was one of the bricks forming the wall. The box was then encased in a U-shaped concrete cradle and mortar, which provided additional protection from moisture, environmental impact, and reduced exposure to oxygen and prevented oxidation. The items were assessed by archaeological experts to be in good condition, well-maintained, and mostly free from mould and erosion, precisely because the capsule was installed in an unlike place in the wall below the foundation stone, which was unlike the usual time capsules that were dug out from under the ground.
Throughout this discovery journey, God’s grace had connected us to many quarters from which kind help was extended to us which gave us invaluable counsel and advice along the way. We are grateful to the learning and sharing by state archaeologists from National Heritage Board, Preservation of Sites and Monuments, National Archives Singapore, National Library Board, Mr Wong Chung Wan from Maek Consulting Pte. Ltd., and Mr Alex Teoh, a private paper and book conservator, on the use of intervention, preservation and restorative techniques like humidification and how to display these items. Topzone E&C Pte. Ltd., and Mr Chen Sikai and Ms Rita Soh from RDC Architects Pte Ltd had helped us with the extraction works and liaison with the authorities.
TACMC is preparing to showcase its history in the upcoming ‘Lighthouse of CBD’ gallery, in August 2025, in conjunction with its 136th anniversary. The gallery will display not only historical items but also serve as a beacon of the church’s mission and a testament to God’s work through TACMC. The committee backed by the church asks all for prayer support in His Name, claiming the promise in Isaiah 14:24, trusting in God’s purpose and plan. Amen.
Susan Koh
Member of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church and its
Archives & History Committee