At the request of the Norris sisters of 729, Paya Lebar Road and Mr. and Mrs. Goh Cheng Lim, the Rev. Horley called on Mr. Sundram to discuss with him this latest development. On the advice of Mr. Daniel E. Sundram, his mother and brothers, the Mission Treasurer decided not to negotiate any sale until further notice—with the exception of the corner, as had been mentioned earlier.

The new private school at 166-D, Upper Serangoon Road, at this time, had about two dozen children and was under the charge of Mrs. The Phik Ho.

At another meeting in the Norris home on Friday, 27th March, 1931, with the Rev. W.S. Horley in the Chair, it was announced that Mr. Daniel E. Sundram was to be honorarily in charge of the Mission work at Paya Lebar, and that he was to be assisted by a representative Committee pro-tem consisting of the District Superintendent, the Rev. W.S. Horley as Chairman, Mr. H. E. Bunn as Treasurer, Mr. Philip Khoo as Sunday School Superintendent and Mr. Khoo Chiang Bee, Mr. Peh Wah Kok, Mr. Lee Teck Hock, Rey. P.B. Means, Rev. Goh Hood Keng Mrs. The Phik Ho, and Misses E. Norris, G. David and Khoo Cheng Ee (now Mrs. Lee Teck Hock).

During the earlier period there was no organised church. There was a Sunday School of about ten. Friends then began to take an increasing interest in the work of the church, and at the end of the year, on Christmas Day, the first five young men were baptised and received into the church membership by the Rev. Abel Eklund.

Sunday, 10th July, 1932 saw the inauguration of the Paya Lebar Methodist Church at 166-D, Upper Serangoon Road. The Service was conducted by the Rev. Abel Eklund. At this service the first Official Board was named. It consisted of Messrs. H. E. Bunn, Philip Khoo, Daniel E. Sundram, Phua Swee Kim, Lim Hee Yang, Loh Boon Chwee, Miss Khoo Cheng Ee (now Mrs. Lee Teck Hock) and Mrs. K. Chiang.

At a request from Mr. Daniel E. Sundram to Bishop Edwin F. Lee, Mr. Chew Hock Hin was in 1934 made minister in charge of the Paya Lebar Methodist Church. His appointment was read at the Annual Conference of the Methodist Church held in January, 1934. After the Conference Mr. Chew Hock Hin, with Mr. and Mrs. Peh Wah Kok, visited Mr. Daniel E. Sundram at 15, Boundary Road and asked him to continue as Principal and teacher of the School. This Mr. Sundram did until 1935, after which Mrs. Chew Hock Hin took over.

When he became minister of Paya Lebar Methodist Church, Rev. Chew Hock Hin began visiting homes of peoples living in the district. Soon, under his evangelistic fervour, the membership of the church grew, until the four-classroom building in use then was found to be inadequate.

A building fund for a proper church began. Concerts and bazaars were organised to raise funds. Within 2 years the foundation stone of the new Church building was laid. The Church was completed a few months later and dedicated on the 1st Sunday of May, 1938.

In 1942 the 2nd World War broke out, and the church received its share of shelling from the Japanese. However, the damages were repaired and the authorities allowed the Church to hold services as usual. It was during this period that the Social Service was started to give relief to needy Church members.

After the war, the Church was quickly re-habilitated with financial aid from the American Crusade Funds. All the various activities of the church were resumed and the church started evangelistic work at Pulau Samboe. This work was later stopped by the authorities.

In 1947, Rev. and Mrs. Chew Hock Hin were awarded Crusade scholarships to the U.S. On their return Rev. Chew was placed in charge of both Paya Lebar and Geylang Straits Chinese Methodist Churches. To assist him in his heavy work, Mr. Wee Chin Kam was appointed the first paid assistant pastor in 1954.

In December, 1957, the Church requested the Annual Conference for the appointment of a full-time minister. Thus the Rev. Edwin Khoo became the first full-time pastor of Paya Lebar Methodist Church. Rev. Khoo served only for a year.

During his short tenure of office, two young people's organisations were born - "Make Youth Find" and "Crusaders for Christ.” The former has since become a Singapore District Methodist Youth Fellowship affair, and the latter, whose membership consisted strictly of pupils from the Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School, is now defunct.

The year 1959 saw the Rev. Wong Hoon Hee's ministry at Paya Lebar Methodist Church. As in the case of Rev. Khoo, the Rev. Wong served for only a year also, after which he was transferred to Malacca.

In 1960, the Rev. Kenneth J. Chellappah, took over the ministry of the Church. Under his inspired guidance, the struggling Methodist Youth Fellowship found its footing once again and began to grow in stature. Today it is a steady organisation.

Leading the Malay-speaking congregation is Mr. Raymond Phoa who is at present doing his housemanship at the Trinity Theological College. Apart from his Malay work, Mr. Phoa also assists the Rev. Chellappah in the English language services and the general ministry of the Church.

Under the leadership of the Rev. Chellappah and Mr. Raymond Phoa, Paya Lebar Methodist Church now holds three services every Sunday-two in English, at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and one in Malay at 9 a.m.

A notable feature in the church's history is the dedication of a new chancel and altar. This took place this year on Sunday, 8th April 1962, and the service of dedication was conducted by the District Superintendent, the Rev. J.V. Ayaduray. The idea of this new chancel and altar, striking in their simplicity, came from the Rev. Chellappah. The funds towards their construction and installation came from the coffers of some of the Church's organisations and from the pockets of individual members and wellwishers.

This year, Paya Lebar Methodist Church is 30 years old and is still serving the community in Paya Lebar. We sincerely hope and pray that the Church will go on from strength to strength and be as "a shining beacon set upon an hill," doing good in the name of Christ.