This photograph depicts the third building of St Andrew's Cathedral which was built on the same site as the two earlier buildings that were demolished in 1824 and 1855 respectively. Designed by Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Macpherson, St Andrew’s Cathedral is one of the few surviving structures of English Gothic architecture in Singapore. The foundation stone for the church was laid in 1856. A crew of convict labourers was largely responsible for the construction of the church which was built under the direction of Major J.F.A McNair. St Andrew’s Cathedral held its first service in 1861.
