SINGAPORE — Work to rescue Singapore’s oldest Roman Catholic church remains on hold, more than two years after it announced a S$40 million makeover to address major structural problems.

While awaiting approval of its plans by the authorities, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd has also raised only a quarter of the amount required — about S$10 million, said its Rector, Father Adrian Anthony. For now, no date has been set for when the cathedral’s two-year closure will start, even though parishioners have said it will be closed this year.

“We are concerned about funds for, first and foremost, the costs and, later on, the maintenance of this big complex,” said Father Anthony yesterday. “Right now, we are in the process of obtaining all the various approvals from the various authorities ... Once these approvals are obtained then we will be able to give a definitive date on when we will start the construction.”

The Urban Redevelopment Authority yesterday said it has received a proposal from the cathedral to renovate their building, and that discussions with the church are ongoing.

The cathedral, which began services in 1832 as a small wood and attap chapel, was gazetted as a national monument in 1973. Today, the 164-year-old cathedral has support beams tacked to its sides to strengthen the building. Crumbling plaster is a common sight.

The building began facing serious distress when, in 2006, cracks as long as 3m appeared in the walls, followed by the tilting of the cathedral’s bell tower three years later. The damages was thought to have been caused by underground construction work in the area.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Singapore Management University (SMU) were involved in the construction of the Circle Line and a new campus in the area. The cathedral is located at the junction of Queen Street and Bras Basah Road, near the Circle Line’s Bras Basah Station.

In 2010, the cathedral received undisclosed compensation from both the LTA and the SMU after four years of meetings with engineers, building surveyors, consultants and lawyers.

Father Anthony declined to confirm or reveal plans for the renovation work, pending the approval of the necessary permits from the relevant authorities. It was previously reported that renovation work would include laying a new foundation for the cathedral, renovating the rectory and building a new annex building for community use.

But he said that the badly needed funds will go to the “total re-development” of the cathedral. The cathedral’s pipe organ — one of about 10 left in Singapore — which turned 100 last year is estimated to need between S$1 million and S$2 million to restore.

Father Anthony added that there will be no temporary venue for parishioners to worship during the closure. “During the closure, worshippers are free to attend the other churches in the city,” he said.