St. Paul's Church, Kandy | AmazingLanka.com

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St. Paul’s Church in Kandy was constructed by the British colonial administration in 1846, following their annexation of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815. The church was built on a plot of land known as Alakolamediththa, situated directly adjacent to two of the most sacred and symbolic landmarks in Kandy: the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) and the King’s Audience Hall. According to Abeyawardana (2001, p. 48), the official justification for constructing the church within the holy Buddhist site was the need for a space where Christian judges could swear oaths before presiding over court proceedings.

A Place of Worship for British Soldiers

Initially, the church served as a place of worship specifically for British military personnel, who had previously held their Sunday services and religious festivals in the King’s Audience Hall. Clergy assigned to the church were known as “Chaplains” to the military forces.

A marble slab near the left west door of the church records the names of these Chaplains from 1816 to 1889, and the Vicars who succeeded them from 1886 to the present day. Inside the church are numerous memorial plaques commemorating British officers and soldiers, symbolizing both their role in the colonial administration and their involvement in military campaigns during the occupation of the Kandyan provinces. Additional memorials are dedicated to members of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment and the Ceylon Mounted Infantry, further illustrating the church’s deep ties to British military history in Sri Lanka.

Architectural Features and Memorials

The church’s architecture includes a square west tower—a characteristic feature of British ecclesiastical design—topped with battlements. A notable feature of the tower is the presence of clocks on three of its sides.

Twenty-five years after the original construction of St. Paul’s Church, significant architectural additions were made, including the chancel, vestry, and organ.

At the east end of the church, a stained-glass window was donated by Mrs. L. St. George Carey in memory of her husband, a major estate proprietor of the time. The central panel of this window depicts the Crucifixion, flanked by scenes of the Nativity, Entombment, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ. The organ, installed around the same time, was also a gift in his memory. (G. J. A. Skeen, 1903, pp. 23–24)

In the South Transept, another window—created by Clayton and Bell—features a symbolic figure of Faith. This window was erected by the Ceylon Mounted Infantry to honor their comrades who perished in the South African War.(G. J. A. Skeen, 1903, pp. 23–24)

In the North Transept, a window titled The Good Shepherd was donated by Mrs. Owen Morgan in memory of her husband, who once served as District Judge of Colombo.(G. J. A. Skeen, 1903, pp. 23–24)

The church’s interior features intricate teak woodwork, with select elements inlaid with ebony and ivory. These carvings stand as a testament to the craftsmanship of traditional Sinhalese woodworkers.

At the west end of the church, a striking marble monument commemorates two officers of the Ceylon Rifles who had served at Kars during the Crimean War. The church also houses several other memorials along its walls. Among the most notable is a brass tablet dedicated to Sir John Douglas, K.C.M.G., who served as Lieutenant-Governor and Colonial Secretary from 1878 to 1885. He is credited as the practical founder of the Public Service Widows’ and Orphans’ Pension Fund. After his untimely death, his widow became one of the fund’s first beneficiaries. (G. J. A. Skeen, 1903, pp. 23–24)

St. Paul’s College

During its early years, the church compound also housed an educational institution called St. Paul’s College. When land in the area was later designated as part of the Sacred City surrounding the Temple of the Tooth, the school was relocated to Asgiriya, another part of Kandy. It continues to exist today under the name Wariyapola Sumangala Vidyalaya (Abeyawardana, 2001, p. 48).

References

Abeyawardhana, H. A. P. (2004). Heritage of Kandurata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Kandurata Development Bank, in association with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Skeen, G. J. A. (1903). A Guide to Kandy, with Maps: A Handbook of Information, Useful Alike to the Visitor and the Resident (1st ed.). A. M. and J. Ferguson, “Observer” Office.
St. Paul’s Church. (n.d.). History – St. Paul’s Church, Kandy. St. Pauls Church, Kandy. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from https://www.stpaulschurchkandy.lk/history.html

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Historical Churches of Sri Lanka

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