“Since I am Governor of Singapore, I have the opportunity to know the work done in this colony, and it is why I do not hesitate to say that there is no institution as well conducted as this one. I know to whom the Government turns when it is confronted with poor destitutes, children or adults; and we are sure that they will find here a good home and a good education.” - Governor of Singapore, 1892

WHAT LIES BEHIND THE CLOISTER WALLS?
The history of CHIJMES is a marvellous mosaic. It reveals so beautifully that love does, in fact, conquer all. Its odyssey from struggling convent school to resplendent living history was never easy, but then most worthwhile journeys are anything but. CHIJMES was once the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ), established in 1854. The order of the Holy infant Jesus was founded by a Frenchman, Father Nicholas Barre.Born in Amiens, France in 1621 and educated at a Jesuit college in his hometown, Nicholas Barre decided to dedicate his life to God. He joined the Convent des Minimes, one of the strictest orders in the church and was appointed Professor of Theology. Despite his success, he was a man of humility and the idea of improving education in France struck him.

The Convent - (Undated)

Young women volunteers of Rouen ran the first "Charitable Schools" in their town to teach the poor children. They went each morning to teach, gathering the children from home to home if necessary. Father Barre realised the need of spiritual bond among the sisters to counteract rising opposition from the other "writing masters" or teachers of that time. Thus, he began a new religious congregation.As membership increased, the schools multiplied. In Paris, he named his schools simply as "School of the Holy Infant Jesus". In 1678, he founded a Novitiate for the Sisters on the Seine.

However, in May 1686, his health declined and on 24 May, Father Barre's soul returned to the Maker. By the end of the century, less than 25 years after the opening of the Mother-House in Paris, Father Barre's congregation was directing 80 establishments for free education and 40 boarding schools in the French provinces. The period of office of Rev Mother de Faudoas (1837-1877) saw a wonderful expansion in the Institute's work. The Institute developed rapidly after official approval by the Holy See of Rome was given. It spread from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, to the Far East - from America to England, Spain, Malaya, Japan and even to Thailand.

The first missionary trip to the East was made in 1851 by five nuns but it was a failure. The Superior of the party died at sea, another caught brain-fever and a third left on reaching Singapore. Only two nuns were left and another party had to be sent. Sister Mathilde was chosen as the Superior of this new party of four Sisters who finally reached Penang on 28 October 1852 after a tiring journey of six months.

THE CONVENT IN SINGAPORE

Rev Jean Marie Beurel of St Brieu (Brittany), was in the Mission in Singapore from 1839 to 1869. As early as 1849, he wrote to Governor Butterworth to say that since St Joseph's Institution was ready to be established, it might be worthwhile to found another charitable organization for the girls next to the church in Victoria Street. The Governor disagreed, as did his successor Governor Blundell in 1852.

CHIJ - (Undated)

On 18 August 1852 however, Father Beurel used his own money to purchase a house at the corner of Victoria Street and Bras Basah Road for $4,000. The house was built by a famous architect at that time, Mr Cdnan, for Mr Caldwell. This was the beginning of the Convent building, covering a space larger than that of any ecclesiastical body in Singapore, and having a large open space with grass and trees in the centre. In 1840, Father Beurel bought four lots of land for $3,150 from the Trustees of Raffles Institution, then in need of funds. By 1860, he conveyed it as a gift to "the Reverend Mother St Mathilde and her successors in office". It was Father Beurel who had applied to the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus in St Mau in France for Sisters to run his convent in Singapore.

The Chapel's Altar - before restoration THE NUNS IN SINGAPORE One year after establishing a convent in Penang, Rev Mother Mathilde came to Singapore and served as Mother Superior of the Convent for 20 years. When Rev Mother Mathilde and her Sisters arrived in Singapore, they were greeted with very spartan facilities - one bed, two mats, two chairs and two stools to share among the four of them.

The Sisters quickly got to work and within 10 days, took in orphans, did needlework for the town's ladies to support them financially and taught 14 fee-paying children. There were fewer than 200 Europeans in Singapore and very few were Catholics. It was very slow over the first few years, but as the number of pupils increased and the school became better known, help was sent from the parent house in France and a new batch of Sisters arrived.