Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa
Church chancel, altar and stained glass windows
Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa is located in Central Colombo
Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa
Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa
6°47′06″N 79°53′12″E / 6.78491936484°N 79.8867843811°E / 6.78491936484; 79.8867843811
LocationHoly Emmanuel Road, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
DenominationAnglican
WebsiteHoly Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa
History
Consecrated27 December 1860
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)Thomas Skinner
Architectural typeChurch
StyleVictorian Gothic
Groundbreaking1857
Construction cost£5,338
Specifications
Length32 m (105 ft)
Number of towersone
Tower height37 m (120 ft)
Administration
MetropolisArchbishop of Canterbury
DioceseColombo
Clergy
Vicar(s)Rev. Malinda de Mel

Holy Emmanuel Church is an Anglican church in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (a southern suburb of Colombo). The current church building was officially consecrated in 1860 but the site has been used for religious services since 1799.

History

In 1675 the Dutch constructed a building on the site of the current church cemetery. The building was subsequently used as a school and from 1799 for religious services. In 1815 it was demolished and the first Anglican Church was built on the site. The church was funded by the Governor Robert Brownrigg and the local congregation. The church was popularly known as the "Brownrigg Palliya", with a capacity to hold 800 to 1,000 people.[1][2]

On 4 January 1857, Gate Mudaliyar Jeronis de Soysa requested the Bishop of Colombo, James Chapman, seek Governor Henry Ward's approval to demolish the old church building and construct a new church on a 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) adjacent to the cemetery.[1] On 31 January Governor Ward granted approval for the new church and on 27 December Bishop Chapman laid the foundation stone for the building. It was designed by Thomas Skinner and completed at a cost of over £5,338, with the funds mainly contributed by Jeronis de Soysa and his brother Susew de Soysa.[2] On 18 December 1860 de Soysa transferred the title of the land to the Anglican Church.[1]

On 27 December 1860, the Holy Emmanuel Church was consecrated by Bishop Chapman. Governor Charles Justin MacCarthy and his wife, together with a number of notable Europeans were present at the consecration service.[3][1]

Architecture

The church was designed by Major Thomas Skinner, an engineer who worked in the Public Works Department, in a Victorian Gothic style.[4][5] The dominant feature is the landmark 37 m (120 ft) bell tower at the entrance of the church. The church is 32 m (105 ft) in length, with the roof of the nave resting on six arches. The stained glass windows were imported from England. The pipe organ was donated in 1902 by the Mendis brothers.[2]

Commemoration

On 27 December 2010 Sri Lanka Post issued a Rs.5 postal stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the church.[6]

Further reading

  • Capper, John (1960). Centenary Souvenir of the Holy Emmanuel Church. D. P. Dodangoda & Co.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Holy Emmanuel Church Moratuwa: History (Official Website) Retrieved 22 December 2014
  2. 1 2 3 Joseph, Dishan (10 February 2019). "Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa: A towering monument of faith". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  3. Fernando, B. R. Oclen (26 May 2010). "The Greatest Visionary and Philanthropist of Moratuwa, Tribute to Jeronis de Soysa" (PDF). The Island. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  4. Pieris, Anoma (2013). Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth. Routledge. p. 65. ISBN 9780415630023.
  5. de Mel, V. S. M., ed. (1986). The De Soysa Charitaya, Or, History Pertaining to the Lives and Times of Charles Henry De Soysa, J.P., and Other Members of the De Soysa Family. De Soysa. p. 402.
  6. Shebs, Stanley T. "50th Anniversary of Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa issue of Sri Lanka". Stamp Data. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
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