Henri Duvelle



Henri Duvelle was born on 14 August 1874 in Montmorency (Val d’Oise), France. He entered the Seminary of the Missions Étrangères on 31 August 1893. He was ordained a priest on 27 June 1897 and left for the mission of Malacca on 25 August 1897. 

After studying the local language, he served in several pastoral roles in the Malaysia–Singapore mission: as parish priest of Bukit-Mertayam in 1898–1899, vicar in Malacca from 1900 to 1904, parish priest of Batu-Gajah from 1904 to 1906, and parish priest of Ayer-Salak in 1907. 

In 1920, with the help of  the Sultan of Johor, Sir Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar, he began the construction of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Johor Bahru. It was blessed by Bishop Barillon at the end of 1921.

At the time, there was only a wooden bridge connecting Johor and Singapore (the Causeay was not completed until 1923)

It is likely that Fr Duvelle was also parish priest at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Serangoon (IRFA records don't show this).

Father Henri Duvelle (often referred to as Father H. Duvelle) played a critical role in the early 20th century as the successor to Father Laurent Saleilles at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hougang (then rural Serangoon).

 The Request of the Inspector of Schools (1916)

While Father Laurent had laid the foundation for a school building, it was Father Duvelle who officially started the English classes after 1916. This was done at the specific request of the British Inspector of Schools, who saw a need for English-medium education in the rural Serangoon district.

 A "Two-Story" Beginning

Father Duvelle organized the school within a newly completed two-story building located between the parish church and the presbytery:

  • The Upper Floor: Father Duvelle started the English class here.

  • The Ground Floor: He started a Chinese class (this branch eventually evolved into what we now know as Holy Innocents' High School).

  • The First Teacher: He engaged a layman, Mr. Lee Ah Kow, to run these initial classes.

 Overcoming Local Resistance

Starting the school was not easy. Many local parents in Hougang were Teochew farmers who did not see the value of a Western education for their children, as it didn't immediately help with farming or fishing. Father Duvelle and his successor, Father Edward Becheras, had to work hard to convince families that English literacy was the key to their children's future social mobility.

Transition and Growth

Father Duvelle managed the school during its formative first three years. In March 1920, he was succeeded by Father Becherras, who formally "restarted" and expanded the school with a class of 30 pupils and a new teacher, Mr. Montero


He died on 23 April 1943 in Ipoh


 

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