Christ Church, Matale

Christ Church, Matale (Sinhala: ක්‍රිස්තු දේවස්ථානය, මාතලේ) is a Anglican church and the oldest church in Matale, Sri Lanka.[1]

Christ Church, Matale
7°27′49″N 80°37′24″E
LocationHiggolla Mawatha, Matale, Sri Lanka
DenominationAnglican, Church of Ceylon
Clergy
Vicar(s)Rev.
Religion
Year consecrated30 December 1860
StatusActive
Location
Architecture
TypeChurch
StyleNeo-Gothic

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 Matale via Trincomalee. The church was erected and furnished by Rev. William Frederick Kelly, the colonial chaplain for the area.[2] Kelly and thirty six others sent a petition to Bishop Chapman, to dedicate and consecrate Christ Church. The church was consecrated by Bishop James Chapman on 29 December 1860.[3][4] 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.

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.[5] 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.[6] The church celebrated its 150th anniversary on 2 October 2010.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Christ Church". Diocese of Kurunegala. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  2. "Mission Field: A Monthly Record of the Proceedings of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts". 55. Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. 1910: 144. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Medis, Frederick, ed. (1995). The Church of Ceylon: A History, 1945-1995. Church of Ceylon: Diocese of Colombo. p. 118. ISBN 9789559411000.
  4. Beven, F. Lorenz, ed. (1946). A History of the Diocese of Colombo: A Centenary Volume. Times of Ceylon Company. p. 247.
  5. "The Secrets of Matale". Serendib. Sri Lankan Airlines. May 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  6. Anti Tuberculosis Fund. (Ref. Ceylon Churchman Report for the year ending 20 June 1911)
  7. Dole, Nilma (24 January 2010). "Meandering along Matale". The Sunday Observer. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
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