| Treasurer of Presbyterian Church, Singapore Ordinance 1899 |
| 2020 REVISED EDITION |
| This revised edition incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 December 2021 and comes into operation on 31 December 2021 |
| An Ordinance to incorporate the Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore. |
| [29 December 1899] |
| Whereas the Presbyterian Church of England, constituted at Liverpool on 13 June 1876, has a congregation in Singapore who worship at a church erected upon a piece of land granted to certain persons as trustees by the Governor: |
| And whereas Thomas Dunman, formerly of Singapore, Commissioner of Police, being entitled to the 2 pieces of land described in the First Schedule for the respective residues of the terms of 999 years mentioned in the said Schedule, subject to the payment of the rents reserved by and to the observance and performance of the covenants and conditions contained in the indentures mentioned in the said Schedule, subdivided the same into 31 building allotments, which he demised by 31 indentures of lease unto certain lessees for terms of 99 years, reserving to himself the yearly rent of $2 on each of such leases: |
| And whereas by an indenture dated 14 February 1879, and made between the said Thomas Dunman of the first part and Robert Little, John Hutchinson Robertson, Samuel Dunlop, John Anderson, Robert Jamie, Alexander Maughan Martin, Thomas Cuthbertson, William McKerrow and William Alexander Pickering of the second part, the said Thomas Dunman conveyed the said 2 pieces of land together with the said rents unto the parties of the second part, thereinafter referred to as the said trustees upon trust, that they should stand possessed of the said pieces of land and the yearly rents and profits arising out of the same, to receive the said rents and profits, and to expend and apply the same for the purpose of maintaining and upholding the said church or any church which should thereafter be erected in substitution therefor, and for the purpose of defraying all expenses in connection with the said church and with the religious worship in Singapore of the denomination of Christians holding as their confession of faith the ecclesiastical documents received by the different branches of the Presbyterian Church and known as the Westminster Standards, in such manner from time to time as the said trustees or a majority of them should from time to time, in their discretion, think proper: |
| And whereas the indenture in recital contained certain powers enabling the said trustees to sell the said pieces of land and to perform certain other acts, and a provision whereby vacancies in their number could be filled up, followed by a proviso that it should not be imperative to fill up such vacancies until the number of trustees should be reduced to 2: |
| And whereas the piece of land upon which the said church is erected is described in the Second Schedule and is held under a Statutory Land Grant dated 16 August 1892, whereby the Governor of the Colony granted to John Anderson, Charles Phillips, Alexander Johnston, Robert Park, Theodore Page, Robert Allan, Arthur Knight, David James Galloway, John Graham, Robert Little, William Paterson Waddell, Joseph Mactaggart Allinson and Francis Warrack, as trustees for the Presbyterian Church in Singapore, thereafter named the trustees, the said piece of land to hold to the said trustees, their heirs and assigns, in trust for the purposes of the Presbyterian Church, on the said piece of land, erected or any buildings thereafter to be thereon erected, for religious worship and use of any denomination of Christians holding as their confession of faith the ecclesiastical documents received by the different branches of the Presbyterian Church and known as the Westminster Standards for ever: |
| And whereas the Statutory Land Grant contained a provision for appointing new trustees, with liberty upon any appointment to increase or diminish the original number of trustees but so that it be not reduced below 2, and also a proviso that if at any time thereafter public worship should cease in the church aforesaid or in any building thereafter to be erected on the said land for the space of 2 years, or if such building or buildings should not be maintained thereon or kept in such a state of repair as to fit them for the purposes for which they were built, the said land should forthwith revert to Her Majesty together with all the erections and buildings thereon: |
| And whereas the finances of the said congregation are managed by a Treasurer who is appointed by the Board of Managers of the said Congregation, the present Treasurer being Francis Warrack: |
| And whereas it is expedient for conveyancing purposes to incorporate the Treasurer for the time being of the said congregation and to appoint him trustee of the said indenture of 14 February 1879, and of the said Statutory Land Grant of 16 August 1892: |
| It is hereby enacted by the Governor of the Straits Settlements, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows: |
| Short title |
| 1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Treasurer of Presbyterian Church, Singapore Ordinance 1899. |
| The Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore to be a body corporate |
| Use of corporate seal |
3.—(1) All deeds, documents and other instruments requiring the seal of the Corporation shall be sealed with the seal of the Corporation in the presence of the said Francis Warrack or his attorney duly authorised by a power of attorney deposited under section 48 of the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act 1886, or in the presence of his successor for the time being in the said office of Treasurer or his attorney duly authorised as aforesaid, and shall also be signed by the said Francis Warrack or his said attorney or by his said successor or his said attorney.
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| Qualification of Treasurer |
4.—(1) No successor of the said Francis Warrack in the office of Treasurer of the said congregation shall be deemed to be duly qualified as aforesaid unless and until he has caused an extract from the minutes of the Board of Managers of the said congregation appointing him such Treasurer, certified as correct by the Chairman of the Board, to be filed in the office of the Minister of the Colony, and unless and until a notification of such filing has appeared in the Gazette.
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| Corporation appointed trustee of property described in Schedules |
5.—(1) The persons now trustees of the said indenture of 14 February 1879, and of the Statutory Land Grant of 16 August 1892, are hereby removed from their offices of trustees.
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| Property described in First Schedule vested in Corporation |
| 6. The pieces of land described in the First Schedule are hereby vested for the respective residues of the said terms of 999 years mentioned in the First Schedule in the Corporation, subject to the payment of the rents and to the observance and performance of the covenants and conditions contained in the leases mentioned in the First Schedule, and subject also to the said 31 indentures of leases, but nevertheless upon the trusts contained in the said indenture of 14 February 1879. |
| Property described in Second Schedule vested in Corporation |
| 7. The piece of land described in the Second Schedule is hereby vested in the Corporation for an estate in fee simple, but nevertheless upon the trusts contained in the said Statutory Land Grant of 16 August 1892. |
| Saving of Government and other rights |
| 8. Nothing in this Ordinance shall affect the rights of the Government, or of any bodies politic or corporate, or of other persons than such as are trustees of the said indenture of 14 February 1879, and of the said Statutory Land Grant of 16 August 1892. [7/97] |