Saint Andrew's Cathedral is the oldest Anglican site of worship in downtown Singapore. Initially, the Anglican community worshipped in a wooden and thatch-roofed mission chapel located, where the Raffles Hotel (fig.) is today.

In 1834, sufficient funds were raised to start building a church which was completed in 1837. Since a substantial portion of the initial funds was raised by the Scottish community, the church was named after Saint Andrew, one of the 12 Apostles of Christ and the patron saint of Scotland.

After a spire was added to the church, it was struck twice and in 1852 services were discontinued  for safety reasons whilst in 1856 the foundation stone was laid  for a new and the present church, where the first service was held on 1st October 1861.