All Saint’s Church Holbrook in Agarapathana (ආගරපතන හෝල්බෲක් සියලු සාන්තුවරයන්ගේ දේවස්ථානය)

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All Saint's Church Holbrook in Agarapathana — All Saint’s Church Holbrook in Agarapathana

The All Saints’ Church of Agarapathana, built in 1893 on the Holbrook Estate, is a rare cross-shaped plantation church. Distinguished for its stone walls and shingle roof, it houses a historic Bible gifted from Surrey, England, in 1889, preserved amid the hills.

Nestled amidst the rolling tea-covered hills of Nuwara Eliya District lies Agarapathana, a peaceful village that exudes colonial charm and natural beauty. Amid the calm and greenery of this sleepy town stands a quaint architectural relic — the All Saints’ Church of Agarapathana, perched gracefully atop a hill in the Holbrook Estate.

A Colonial-Era Treasure

Constructed in 1893, this charming little plantation church is uniquely shaped like a rounded cross, a design rarely seen in Sri Lanka. Though modest in size, the building radiates old-world character. The stone walls, the wooden shingle roof—faithfully oiled every two years to preserve its condition—and the enduring sound of its bell tower, still echoing across the hills, add to its vintage allure.

While time has preserved much of the church’s original character, some features have sadly been lost. Once adorned with stained glass windows, these were destroyed by wayward cricket balls from the neighboring community, leaving behind empty frames where colored light once filtered through. Despite these losses, the church continues to evoke the spirit of its era, reminiscent of Adisham Bungalow in Haputale—Sir Thomas Villiers’ manor that now serves as a monastery.

Sacred Gifts from Afar

Inside the church lies its most prized possessions: two massive leather-bound volumes, one of the Holy Bible and the other the Book of Common Prayer, printed in Cambridge in 1835 and 1838. These historic texts were gifted to the congregation over a century ago. A faded inscription tells their story:

“This Bible… was presented to or formerly used in the Parish Church of Holmwood, Surrey, England. It is now given by Rev. Edmund Dave Wickham, Vicar of Holmwood and by the Church Wardens of the said Parish and with the consent of the Ven. Archdeacon, Surrey, for the use of Agrapatana congregation in the Dimbula District of Ceylon, 1889.”

A Legacy in the Hills

Though modest and hidden away from tourist maps, the All Saints’ Church of Agarapathana remains a living testament to Sri Lanka’s colonial past and the spiritual lives of British planters. For those seeking solitude, history, or simply a glimpse of serene hill country life, this small church offers a warm welcome and a silent story waiting to be heard.

References

Sadanandan, R., & Dissanaike, T. (1998, December 20). Those old churches. Sunday Times. Retrieved May 23, 2025, from https://www.sundaytimes.lk/981220/plus12.html

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