St. Nichaolas Church, Trincomalee

As the work of the Anglican Church in Trincomalee is very seriously impeded by the lack of a vicarage and a Church center’ and by the inaccessibility of St. Stephen’s Church, locked up in Fort Fredrick, far from the homes of the people, the harbor and the camps of most servicemen. The present so called “vicarage” is a hired house which is too small, and difficult to find. There is no church hall or social center where Anglicans can meet.

In 1939 a piece of land was bought near the dockyard gates, in a most accessible position, but lack of money in the first place, and since 1942 the army’s need of the land, have made it impossible to contemplate building until now. But the war is now over and the army has handed back the land, so the opportunity has come to build a chapel of Eats to St. Stephen’s to be named St. Nicolas Church, a vicarage and a Church hall for social purposes.

The designs have been drawn up by Mr. H.H Reid, F.R.I.B.A., of Messrs Edward, Reid and Begg, architects Colombo.

On 25 March 1948, the building of the Church began, and the foundation stone was laid by Sir Arthur Palliser, K.C.B, D.S.C on 19 April 1948.

The Church was consecrated on 25 November 1951 by Bishop Archibald Rollo-Graham Campbell.

A commemoration tablet was laid by Lady Slayter on 21 March, 1954 and the vicarage was built and made ready in may 1954.

The foundation for the vicarage was laid on 21 March 1954 by the wife of the Commander in Chief.