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.
| Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa | |
| 6°47′06″N 79°53′12″E / 6.78491936484°N 79.8867843811°E | |
| Location | Holy Emmanuel Road, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 27 December 1860 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Skinner |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Victorian Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1857 |
| Construction cost | £5,338 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 32 m (105 ft) |
| Number of towers | one |
| Tower height | 37 m (120 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Metropolis | Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Diocese | Colombo |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Rev. Malinda de Mel |
History edit
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 edit
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 edit
On 27 December 2010 Sri Lanka Post issued a Rs.5 postal stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the church.[6]
Further reading edit
- Capper, John (1960). Centenary Souvenir of the Holy Emmanuel Church. D. P. Dodangoda & Co.
External links edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d Holy Emmanuel Church Moratuwa: History (Official Website) Retrieved 22 December 2014
- ^ a b c Joseph, Dishan (10 February 2019). "Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa: A towering monument of faith". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Pieris, Anoma (2013). Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth. Routledge. p. 65. ISBN 9780415630023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Shebs, Stanley T. "50th Anniversary of Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa issue of Sri Lanka". Stamp Data. Retrieved 19 July 2022.