Dedicated on 8.1.1941 by Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Cecil Douglas Horsley
St. Mark’s Church was built with the help of the late Mr. and Mrs. George N. David, the late Mrs. J.G.C. Mendis and other parishioners of Moratuwa. Although situated in Moratuwa this church was part of the Colombo South Tamil Pastorate.
St. Mark’s came under the incumbency of Moratuwa Holy Emmanuel Parish in 1964. The congregation dwindled after the racial violence of July 1983. Thereafter, the church was used for religious activities by various Christian organizations. (Source: St. Marks’ Church, Idama, Moratuwa-50 Anniversary, The Report of the Standing Committee, 1990-1991, pages 15 and 16)
Due to the untiring efforts of Simon J Peiris steps were taken in 1913 to build a Chapel at Willorawatte with the help of his two brothers H.T Peiris and James Peiris.
During the Incumbency of Canon Jacob Mendis and the Episcopate of Rt. Rev. Mark Carpenter Garnier, the Church was accommodated in a small building.
On the occasion of the prize giving of the Sunday school, Nancy Charlotte Peiris to provide assistance in order to put up a larger building. She and her son J.L.D Peiris readily responded to the appeal and in addition also provided the furniture and the other requirements to the Church. On the 5 of October 1935, the new Church was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Mark Carpenter-Garnier, Bishop of Colombo.
In 1860, Seemon Mendis grandfather of the Rev. H.E.C. Mendis donated a block of land to build a school for the children of the area.
In 1884, the Rev. Johannes De Silva, the Acting Incumbent of Holy Emmanuel Church utilised the school building to hold divine services and a Sunday school for the benefit of the parishioners belonging to the Church of England and who were resident in the Moratumulla area. The building was enlarged and on 25 January 1910, was dedicated and consecrated as St. Paul’s Chapel.
A block of land in close proximity to the Chapel was donated by J. Hendrick De Mel. With the donations received from him and the generous public, St. Paul’s Church was built and consecrated by Bishop E.A. Copleston, on 2 February, 1923.
Using the framed pictures displayed at the altar, the cross of Christ designed by Engaltina Mendis was displayed. During this period, St. Paul’s Church which functioned under the Incumbency of Holy Emmanuel Church held their divine services according to the rights of the Church of England as stipulated in the trust deed No 1331.
In 1933, the Church building was further extended by Cornelius Francis De Mel and his wife. In 1934, when the Rev. Jacob Mendis was the Incumbent, the Seminar Guild was formed and in 1942, when the Rev. Harold De Soysa was the Incumbent, a Church Committee was formed.
In 1950, a small hall was erected for socio-religious activities and the Church vestry was also extended within the precincts of the Church. A small cottage was built and completed on 2 February 1964 by Sharmini Perera in memory of P. James Perera and Leonara Perera.
The financial administration of the Church which was then carried out by Holy Emmanuel Church, was taken over in 1979 by St. Paul’s Church and is at present managed independently by St. Paul’s Church.
The parishioners who realized the serious lack of a suitable building for the Church Hall decided to construct one and the foundation stone was laid on the 2 February 2003 by the Rt. Rev. Duleep De Chickera, Bishop of Colombo.
The dedication of this Chapel took place on All Saints Day 1 November 1955. The Church was dedicated by the Lord Bishop Rt. Rev. Archibald Rollo Graham Campbell. The Vicar at the time was the Rev. Bertram Wickremanayake
The Church itself s built in the form of a cross on oriental lines consisting of a Polonnaruwa plinth all round, while at the junction of the nave and center transept is a Kandyan octagonal tower. The structure which forms a cross has three sections consisting of: 1. A Chapel in the main part of the cross to serve the spiritual needs of the people in the village; 2. The right arm of the cross to be used as a vestry and library to serve the mental needs of the people; 3. A discrepancy in the left arm to serve the physical needs of the people. The building thus emphasizes that the Church could only fulfill her Ministry to the fullest extent only when she administers to the mind, body and soul of the people. As one enters the Church his eyes are first directed towards the stature of the Healing Christ high-up in a niche on the wall with the appropriate words, “Be still and know that I am God” written beneath.
The altar, fort, lectern and pulpit are made of the different shades of granite found in Ceylon and the altar railings are painted in Kandyan style with the pineapple motif. The Bishop’s Chair is designed on the Kandyan throne and the non-Christian symbols with the crest of the Diocese and the Bishop’s mitre at the peak together with an appropriate kneeling desk and font stool.
In front and on either side of the altar are two large brass coconut oil lamps designed after a Kandyan Pattern. A large mural painting depicting the victorious Christ on the cross to emphasize that the way of the cross is the only way to victory, with the Virgin Mary and St. John or oriental lines forms a Calvary group background to the altar. The design on the lectern has two elephants bearing a crown over a Nestorian Cross. The elephants, accepted to be the wisest of animals, represent the philosophy of the country and is meant to teach that the crowning glory of all philosophy is in the cross. The same idea is conveyed through the design in the pulpit where two lions bear with them two crosses instead of swords, a design that has been adopted from the National flag.
In front of the altar is engraved a large Nestorian Cross to connect the work of this Church with the earliest Christian settlement in Ceylon in about the sixth century.
Besides the mural painting at the altar there are four other mural paintings. The first of these represents the boy Christ working as a carpenter while the second illustrates the call of St. Peter by the Sea of Galilee. It is interesting to note that the major industry in the town as also in the village in particular is carpentry. By the font is a picture depicting Christ blessing the village children under a breadfruit tree and the last painting depicting the story of the ten lepers in a national background emphasizes that gratitude is the essence of religion. Besides these, two large candle stands, ornamental throughout with Sinhalese designs painted on them bearing seven candles each are specially made for the making of vows. On either side of the altar and on the wall is an aumbry for Holy oil and a tabernacle for the blessed sacrament.
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Contact Details
Postal Address
Church of the Healing Christ Galpitahaboda Rd, Kadalana Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
The history of the Anglican Church in Moratuwa dates from 1799. At the site of the present General Cemetery behind Holy Emmanuel Church, stood an old Dutch building for 140 years since 1675.
In addition, to being used as a school, divine services were held in the building from 1799 until it was demolished in 1815 to be replaced by the first Anglican Church built in Moratuwa at the expense of the Government and the congregation.
This Church was built under the patronage of Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg, who contributed his share towards the construction of the Church. A significant feature of the Anglican Church in Moratuwa was that from the very inception divine services and all other Church activities were conducted in Sinhala.
On 4 January 1857, gate Mudliyar Jeronis De Soysa appealed to the Bishop of Colombo, James Chapman, to seek the Governor’s sanction for demolishing the old Church known as “Brownrigg Palliya”, for the construction of a new edifice on the allotment of land one and a half acres in extent adjoin the then cemetery and to set apart such land and building as a gift in perpetuity to the Church of England. The only condition that was attached to this most liberal and praiseworthy proposal was the use of materials of the existing building. He himself would provide a temporary structure for divine worship until the completion of the new Church.
Jeronis De Soysa’s application was recommended by the Bishop and the Governor Sir. Henry Ward by his letter dated 31 January 1857, addressed to the Bishop, conveyed his sanction for the above proposal.
On 27 December 1857, Bishop James Chapman laid the cornerstone of Holy Emmanuel Church, which when completed cost over sterling pounds 5338-5s (Rs. 80,000). The funds for this edifice were contributed mainly by Jeronis De Soysa and his brother Susew De Soysa. By Deed No. 11956 dated 18 December 1860, Gate Mudliyar Jeronis De Soysa gave over to Dr. James Chapman, the first Bishop of Colombo, the land and the Church built thereon.
On 27 December 1860, Holy Emmanuel Church was consecrated by Bishop Chapman. The Governor and Lady McCarthy together with a number of Europeans assembled in the Church before the consecration. The Church was filled with the most distinguished congregation from the immediate vicinity. At 2.00p.m. The Bishop attended by his clergy and choristers from the Cathedral walked in solemn procession from the Galle Road to the Church. The service was conducted both in English and in Sinhala and the sermon was delivered by the Rev. S.W Dias in Sinhala. The Cathedral Choir without the aid of any musical instrument was in attendance. Soon after the Bishop had taken his seat, the service commenced at the instance of the Rev. Cornelius Senanayake. The consecration of Holy Emmanuel Church was conducted by the Bishop, assisted by the Rev. Cornelius Senanayake, B. Bailey, J. De Silva, F. De Mel, Abraham Mendis and the Rev. S.W. Dias who also assisted in the Service which was conducted in Sinhala.
At the conclusion of the service, His Excellency and Lady McCarthy along with the other dignitaries present on the occasion were received by Mr. and Mrs. Jeronis De Soysa at their residence. The proceedings closed with a presentation of an address to the worthy founder by the residents of Moratuwa.
Name
From
To
Remarks
Rev. Abraham Mendis
1861
1883
Rt. Rev. E. A. Copleston
1883
1889
Rev. Johannes De Silva
1889
1907
Canon Jacob Mendis
1908
1940
Ven. C. H. W. De Soysa
1941
1948
Rev. B. M. Wickramanayaka
1949
1956
Rev. F. R. E. Mendis
1957
1958
Rev. E. G. Misso
1959
1963
Rev. Alik Dias Abeysinghe
1964
1965
Rev. N. D. Amaratunga
1966
1970
Rev. Bernard J. Perera
1971
1976
Rev. Roger A. Herfth
1977
1978
Rev. Edison T. L. Mendis
1979
1982
Rev. Lakshman S. Peiris
1983
1986
Rev. Lloyd Weerasuriya
1987
1990
Rev. Devapriya De Silva
1991
1994
Rev. Lenin John Marshall
1995
1997
Rev. Melvin O. De Silva
1998
2002
Rev. Sunil Ferdinando
2003
2006
Rev. Nilanga Gunasekara
2007
2010
Rev. Keerthisiri Fernando
2011
to date
Contact Details
Postal Address
Holy Emmanuel Church Holy Emmanuel Church Rd Moratuwa., Sri Lanka.
Telephone
0112 645 447
Email
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The foundation stone for this Church was laid on 24 February 1872, which was St. Matthias Day. Under the foundation stone was laid a bottle containing different coins of Ceylon and a document.
The words inscribed in the document read thus. St. Matthias Chapel-The corner stone was laid by Hugh Willoughby, third Bishop of Colombo, on 24 February 1872, being the first year of his episcopate, and the 35 year of Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s Reign. Present on this occasion are Rev. A. Mendis, colonial Chaplain, Rev. J. Bacon, presenter, Cathedral, Mr. S. De Soysa, Mudliyar Mr. C.H. De Soysa.
The idea for the establishment of the Church goes back to the time when Colonial Chaplain Abraham Mendis was appointed to Moratuwa as Colonial Chaplain in 1861. A few years after Rev. Mendis was appointed he conceived an idea of having a day school festival. There were two day schools in the area at that time, namely Rawatawatte School and the Laxapathiya School. On 15 December 1869, the day school festival took place. In the speeches delivered on the occasion the difficulties under which Church work was being carried out in this part of the parish was emphasized and an appeal was made for the erection of at least a small chapel in the neighbourhood. It was here that C.H. De Soysa resolved to build the Church. A site bordering the Angulana Road, Midway between the Galle Road and the Sea, was selected for this purpose.
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Contact Details
Postal Address
St. Matthias Church, Lakshapathiya, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
Telephone
0112-607121
Email
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