Christ Church, Matale () is an Anglican church and the oldest church in

Matale Matale ( Sinhala: මාතලේ, , , ) is a major city in Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative capital and largest urbanised city of Matale District. Matale is also the second largest urbanised and populated city in Central P ...

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

. The church is located on the site of the former Fort MacDowall, which was abandoned in 1836. It sits on a small hill, with views over the entrance to

via

Trincomalee Trincomalee (; , ; , ), historically known as Gokanna and Gokarna, is the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee District and major resort port city of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. Located on the east coast o ...

. The church was erected and furnished by Rev. William Frederick Kelly, the colonial chaplain for the area. Kelly and thirty six others sent a petition to Bishop Chapman, to dedicate and consecrate Christ Church. The church was consecrated by

Bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

James Chapman on 29 December 1860. The parsonage was opened on 16 August 1862. Kelly was succeeded by Rev. S. T. Taylor in 1865, following Kelly's appointment as Colonial chaplain in

Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya ( ; ) is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its name means "city on the plain (table land)" or "city of light". The city is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with a picturesque landsc ...

. The church celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1935, its centenary on 29 January 1961 and its 125th anniversary on 6 September 1986. In 1985 the church was gutted by fire and subsequently completely restored, during which time services were held in the Baptist Church. A special service held in this church, in connection with the Coronation of His Majesty King George V, and Queen Mary, on 22 June 1911. The offertory on that was given to the King Edward VIII. The church celebrated its 150th anniversary on 2 October 2010.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christ Church, Matale Churches in Matale District Church of Ceylon church buildings in the Diocese of Kurunegala 19th-century Anglican church buildings in Sri Lanka Buildings and structures in Matale District Churches completed in 1860 1860 establishments in British India

See also

References