St. Thomas' Church Ginthupitiya-an enduring symbol of faith

Standing tall for over 200 years is St. Thomas' Church in Ginthupitiya, claimed to be the first church in the island specifically built for Anglican worship in 1815. Nestled among coconut palms and a medley of colourful flowers, the holy ground is a sanctuary amidst the bustling thoroughfares of Kotahena.

- BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE

Running parallel to the Colombo Harbour is the Reclamation Road. As one nears the end of this road, the sights of Kotahena begin to take shape, accentuated by its industries. At the turn to the Ginthupitiya street, perched on a hillock is St. Thomas' Church, claimed to be the first Anglican church specially built here at home for worship. Reflecting the Gothic style of architecture and nestled amidst flowers and foliage, a visitor who steps into its environs is made oblivious to the bustling Colombo outside. Instead, it is easy to be mistaken for a quaint little hideout somewhere in the up-country...

A Portuguese church takes shape

Legend has it that St. Thomas the Apostle came to India and was the founder of the Syrian Christian Church there. It is also believed that enroute, he made a stop at the Colombo port and preached on a hillock on which St. Thomas' Church in Ginthupitiya stands today. Paul E. Pieris in his article, 'Inscriptions at St. Thomas' Church Colombo' published in the The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland (Vol.22, No. 65) cites the work of one 'Clevid' appearing in the first volume of the Monthly Literary Register (1893) under the title, A Brief Sketch of the History of St. Thomas's Church, Colombo. In this citation Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg is credited for the erection of the present church (his name is inscribed on the west front wall of the church), the foundation of which was laid in 1815interestingly in the same year when the Kandyan Convention was signed, marking the ceding of the kingdom's territory to the British crown. The writer notes: 'At that period there existed here the ruins of the Roman Catholic Church, which was totally demolished before the foundation of this church was laid. It appears a portion of this ground had been used from the time of the Portuguese for the burial of the dead.'

Dutch graveyard