Christ Church, Galkissa

Christ Church, (also known as the Church of the Open Door) is an Anglican church in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia in Sri Lanka. The church is located on Colombo-Galle main road (A2) approximately 0.35 km (0.22 mi) away from the Dehiwala junction. It was consecrated on 16 February 1843. The four tombs within the church's graveyard have been formally recognised by the Government as archaeological protected monuments in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 6 June 2008 under the government Gazette number 1553.[1]

Christ Church, Galkissa
The church and its graveyard
Religion
AffiliationAnglican
StatusActive
Location
LocationDehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates06°50′54.3″N 79°51′56.3″E
Architecture
TypeChurch
Completed1843
Website
Christ Church Galkissa (Dehiwela)

History

According to the account of the historian Valentyn, the first reference to a church in Galkissa is in 1705 where it mentions about a church, roofed with tiles and built upon 10 masonry and 20 stone pillars with a wall of clay 3½ft high.[2] The stone pillars which had used for the church are said to be brought from a temple at Pepiliyana. In 1803, during the British rule it is said that there was a church in Galkissa without a roof but with supporting pillars. At that time the country residence of Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg was with the proximity of the Church at Mount-Lavinia and he (the governor) evinced a personal interest to restore the church again in 1820. The consecration of the restored church was held on 16 February 1843 by the Bishop of Madras, George Spencer. The church which was mentioned during the British time period is believed to be the same church described by the historian Valentyn in 1705.[3]

Christ Church, Galkissa is known as the only open door church in Sri Lanka. Since 1952 the door of the church is open for whole of the day and night.[4]

See also

References
  1. "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 1553: 534. 6 June 2008.
  2. "Short History of Christ Church Galkissa". ChristChurchGalkissa.com. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  3. "Christ Church, Galkissa (Dehiwala)#History". Diocese of Colombo. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  4. "Anytime is prayer time". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). Wijeya Newspapers. 21 December 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2017.


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