, native_name_lang = Sinhala , image = , image_size = , alt = , caption = Front facade , pushpin map = Sri Lanka , pushpin label position = top , pushpin map alt = , pushpin mapsize = , relief = , map caption = Location in Sri Lanka , coordinates = , location = Marybiso Road, Gampaha , country = Sri Lanka , language(s) = , denomination =

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

, previous denomination = , tradition = , religious institute = , bull date = , status =

Parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

, founded date = , founder = (Rev. Fr.) Gregorius Silva , dedication = The Holy Cross , dedicated date = , relics = Wood fragments from the very own Holy Cross which Jesus died , events = , past bishop = , people = , functional status = Active , groundbreaking = , completed date = , construction cost = , parish = Welieriya parish , deanery = Weliweriya , archdiocese =

Archdiocese of Colombo The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo ( la, Archidioecesis Columbensis in Taprobane) is a Latin Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, whose ecclesiastical province covers all Sri Lanka plus the Maldives (which are ...

, diocese =

Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo me ...

, province = Western Province , district =

Gampaha District Gampaha District ( si, ගම්පහ දිස්ත්‍රික්කය ''gampaha distrikkaya'', ta, கம்பஹா மாவட்டம் ''Kampahā Māvaṭṭam'') is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administ ...

, archbishop =

Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don Albert Malcolm Ranjith ( Sinhala: පටබැඳිගේ දොන් ඇල්බට් මැල්කම් රංජිත්) (born 15 November 1947), often known simply as Malcolm Ranjith or Albert Malcolm Ranjith is a S ...

, auxiliary bishop = , priestincharge = (Rev.Fr.) Hemantha Perera Holy Cross Church, Gampaha si, සිරි කුරුස දේවස්ථානය, ගම්පහ is a

church located in Gampaha,

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

. It was founded in 1916 as a parish church of the

. The church is nicknamed "Gal Palliya/ගල් පල්ලිය" meaning "Rock Church" since the church facade is encrusted with gneiss stone.

History

A Holy Cross Church was known to be located near the heart of Gampaha during the Portuguese ruling period in Sri Lanka(1505–1658). This was during the reign of King

Rajasingha II King Rajasinghe II, also known as Rajasingha II (pre coronation, Prince Deva Astana), was a Sinhalese King, reigned 1629 – 6 December 1687; third king of the Kingdom of Kandy in Sri Lanka. Rajasingha requested Dutch aid to help expel the Port ...

(1629–1687), the third king of the

Kingdom of Kandy The Kingdom of Kandy was a monarchy on the Sri Lanka, island of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in the late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century. Initially a client kingdom ...

in Sri Lanka. In 1658 the Dutch expelled Portuguese and took control over some parts of Sri Lanka. The Dutch era was known to be a disastrous time for Sri Lankan Catholics since they were opposed to the

ism and other traditional religions. The original church was abandoned and was completely ruined. On 7 May 1916, the groundbreaking was done for a new church building under the guidance of Rev.Fr. Gregorius Silva, the Head of Weliweriya deanery. The church was completed and opened to the public in 1918.

Apostolic blessing

An Apostolic Blessing certificate was received from

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

for the 75th anniversary of Holy Cross Church in 1991.

Relics held

Tiny wood fragment from the very own cross which Jesus died is kept away from elements inside a solar monstrance inspired reliquary.

Parish priests and assistant priests

Assistant priests

Namesakes

Other Holy Cross Churches in the

; * Holy Cross Church, Pulasthigama,

Anuradhapura Anuradhapura ( si, අනුරාධපුරය, translit=Anurādhapuraya; ta, அனுராதபுரம், translit=Aṉurātapuram) is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central ...

* Holy Cross Church, Kalutara * Holy Cross Church, Mahahunupitiya, Negombo * Holy Cross Church, Mirigama * Holy Cross Church, Tarala, Pugoda

References

{{reflist * 75th Holy Cross Church Anniversary Souvenir - 1991 September
The Archdiocese of Colombo

Christian Aggression

Religion and Nationalism in Nineteenth Century Sri Lanka - Christian Missionaries and Their Critics (A Review Article by K M de Silva)
Churches in Gampaha Roman Catholic churches in Sri Lanka Tourist attractions in Western Province, Sri Lanka 20th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Sri Lanka Churches in Gampaha District