Historic St. Peters Church of Colombo Fort

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The residence was later assigned to Major General Hay Macdowall, Commander of the British troops. However, he soon complained that the building was old and prone to leaks (De Silva & Beumer, 1988, p. 236). In 1804, the upper story was demolished, and the remaining structure was modified in a quasi-classical British style. (Brohier, 1978, p.89)

Tucked away behind the Grand Oriental Hotel, St. Peter’s Church in Fort presents an unassuming stone façade that hardly resembles a place of worship. This is because it was never intended to be one. Originally constructed as the banquet hall of the Dutch Governor’s residence, the building underwent a transformation when the British took control of Colombo. They repurposed the hall into a chapel, serving as a place of worship for the garrison and a center for spreading the Anglican faith.

During the Portuguese rule of Colombo, a church named St. Peter’s stood in the area that later became Gordon Gardens under the British and is now part of the President’s House grounds. When the Dutch seized control, they demolished the Portuguese church and constructed their own. However, this too was eventually torn down, leaving no trace of both places of worship.

Church of the Misericordia of the Portuguese

The present St. Peter’s Church in Fort was consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta in 1821 (Brohier, 1978, p.89). Before its construction, the site was home to the Church of the Misericordia, or House of Mercy, which served as the chapel for a charitable organization similar to the Friend-in-Need Society during the Portuguese era. The street running in front of the church, now modern Church Street, was once known as the Street of the Misericordia. This street ended at the jail, which was located near the present-day Grand Oriental Hotel (Perera, 1926, p.16).

Dutch Governers House

The view of the Honorable Governor’s house from the rear gardens Source : Illustrations and views of Dutch Ceylon

The Governor’s Residence stood on this site during the Dutch period (1656-1796). It was a grand two-storied mansion with two wings on a single floor. The residence featured two large halls on either side, occupying most of the main building. Additionally, a 300-foot-long hall ran parallel to them, stretching from one end of the house to the other (Bingham, 1922, p.51).

In 1724, Valentijn (1724/1978) wrote about this residence, stating, “Among the beautiful buildings found in Colombo, the house of the Governor excels over others as it reveals itself in the Fort. It is a wonderful building and may be reckoned among the best in the whole Indies.” All but the last Dutch Governor, Johan Gerard van Angelbeek (1794-1796), resided in this house during the Dutch period.

British Period

Following Colombo’s surrender to the British in 1796, the building was primarily used for public occasions and fell into disrepair. It became the venue where the Governor received audiences, welcomed ambassadors, and conferred honorary distinctions upon locals. The grand hall was often repurposed as a ballroom and, at times, functioned both as a court of judicature and a church, accommodating up to 800 soldiers for religious services (Bingham, 1922, p.51).

The residence was later assigned to Major General Hay Macdowall, Commander of the British troops. However, he soon complained that the building was old and prone to leaks (De Silva & Beumer, 1988, p. 236). In 1804, the upper story was demolished, and the remaining structure was modified in a quasi-classical British style. (Brohier, 1978, p.89)

The former “Government House” of the Dutch period was officially designated for divine service in March 1804. Its first chaplain was James Cordiner, who later authored a book about Ceylon, offering valuable insights into the island’s history and culture (Rankine, 1958). It was officially consecrated as St. Peter’s Church by the Bishop of Calcutta, Dr. Thomas Fanshaw Middleton, in 1821 (Brohier, 1978, p.89).

Historic St. Peters Church of Colombo Fort

References

Brohier, R. L. (1978). Links between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands : A Book of Dutch Ceylon (1st ed.). The Netherlands Alumni Association of Sri Lanka.
Perera, S. G. (1926). The City of Colombo 1505-1656. Ceylon Historical Society. –16
De Silva, R. K., & Beumer, W. G. M. (1988). Illustrations and views of Dutch Ceylon 1602-1796. Serendib Publications.
Bingham, P. M. (1922). History of the Public Works Department, Ceylon, 1796 to 1913: Vol. II–III. H. R. Cottle, Government Printer of Ceylon. –51
Rankine, E. (1958). Colombo Old and New. Ceylon Today, VII(12), 3–10.
Saint Peter’s Church, Fort, Colombo. (1896). The Monthly Literary Register and Notes and Queries for Ceylon, IV (new series)(4), 76–77.
Valentijn, F. (1978). François Valentijn’s Description of Ceylon (S. Arasaratnam, Trans.). Hakluyt Society. (Original work published 1724)

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