Church of Ceylon
Encyclopedia
The Church of Ceylon, which is the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka
, was established with the appointment of its first Bishop, Rt Rev James Chapman
in 1845 as the Bishop of Colombo
.
(covering the Western, Southern, Eastern, Northern and Uva provinces and Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya and Puttalam districts) and the other in Kurunegala
(covering the North-Central province and Kurunegala, Kandy, Matale and Kegalla, Anuradapura,polonnaruwa, districts).The Diocese of Colombo was founded in 1845 and the Diocese of Kurunegala was launched in 1950.
Recently, there is a movement for the amalgamation of traditional Protestant Churches (including Church of Ceylon, Methodist Church, Lanka Baptist
Sangamaya, Salvation Army
, Presbyterian Church of Sri Lanka and the Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka) into one body, namely the Church of Sri Lanka, for which a phased road map has been accepted and the process hoped to be started in 2008.
The Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Duleep De Chickera
has under him four Archdeacon
s for Colombo
, Galle
, Jaffna
and Upcountry & East. The Kurunegala
diocese with its only Archdeacon in Kandy
is headed by Rt.Rev. Kumara Illangasingha.
The Church of Ceylon with around 30,000 members, is the second largest group of Christians in Sri Lanka, with the Roman Catholic Church
with 1,600,000 being the largest.
arrived in Ceylon to work with the Church Missionary Society. He was Vice-Principal of Trinity College, Kandy
for many years. Reverend Senior lived in Ceylon for three decades. Reverend W.S.Senior wrote the 'Hymn for Ceylon,' sung to this day in churches on the island. The music for parts of this hymn was composed in 1950 by the leading Sri Lankan folk musician, the late Deva Suriya Sena.
You can view the 'Hymn for Ceylon' on You Tube:
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, was established with the appointment of its first Bishop, Rt Rev James Chapman
James Chapman (Bishop of Colombo)
The Rt. Rev. James Chapman D.D. was the first Bishop of Colombo , in Sri Lanka , serving from 1845 to 1861. He was a fellow of King's College, Cambridge and also attended Eton.-External links:* *...
in 1845 as the Bishop of Colombo
Bishop of Colombo
The Anglican Bishop of Colombo is the bishop of the Diocese of Colombo, a diocese in the Church of Ceylon which is part of the Anglican Communion.- List:#James Chapman D.D. 1845-1861...
.
The Dioceses of Colombo and Kurunegala
The first services were held on the island in 1796 and missionaries were sent to Ceylon to begin work in 1818. The Church now has two dioceses, one in ColomboColombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
(covering the Western, Southern, Eastern, Northern and Uva provinces and Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya and Puttalam districts) and the other in Kurunegala
Kurunegala
Kurunegala , is the capital of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was also an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 13th century. The town itself is a busy commercial and a transport hub...
(covering the North-Central province and Kurunegala, Kandy, Matale and Kegalla, Anuradapura,polonnaruwa, districts).The Diocese of Colombo was founded in 1845 and the Diocese of Kurunegala was launched in 1950.
Recently, there is a movement for the amalgamation of traditional Protestant Churches (including Church of Ceylon, Methodist Church, Lanka Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Sangamaya, Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, Presbyterian Church of Sri Lanka and the Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka) into one body, namely the Church of Sri Lanka, for which a phased road map has been accepted and the process hoped to be started in 2008.
The Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Duleep De Chickera
Duleep De Chickera
Duleep Kamil De Chickera was the 14th Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was inaugurated in 2001.Educated at Royal College, Colombo representing the college at 1st XV Rugby, he gained his training for the ministry at Theological College of Lanka in Pilimatalawe, earning a B.Th thereafter...
has under him four Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
s for Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
and Upcountry & East. The Kurunegala
Kurunegala
Kurunegala , is the capital of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was also an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 13th century. The town itself is a busy commercial and a transport hub...
diocese with its only Archdeacon in Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
is headed by Rt.Rev. Kumara Illangasingha.
The Church of Ceylon with around 30,000 members, is the second largest group of Christians in Sri Lanka, with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
with 1,600,000 being the largest.
Hymn for Ceylon
In the early 20th century an Anglican Missionary,Reverend W.S.SeniorW. S. Senior
Reverend Walter Stanley Senior was an English scholar, poet and member of the Church Missionary Society. Popularly known the "Bard of Lanka", his works are still widely read in the island nation. He was also Vice Principal of Trinity College, Kandy, Sri Lanka.-Early life:Walter Stanley Senior was...
arrived in Ceylon to work with the Church Missionary Society. He was Vice-Principal of Trinity College, Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
for many years. Reverend Senior lived in Ceylon for three decades. Reverend W.S.Senior wrote the 'Hymn for Ceylon,' sung to this day in churches on the island. The music for parts of this hymn was composed in 1950 by the leading Sri Lankan folk musician, the late Deva Suriya Sena.
You can view the 'Hymn for Ceylon' on You Tube:
See also
- Bishop of ColomboBishop of ColomboThe Anglican Bishop of Colombo is the bishop of the Diocese of Colombo, a diocese in the Church of Ceylon which is part of the Anglican Communion.- List:#James Chapman D.D. 1845-1861...
- ColomboColomboColombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
- Duleep De ChickeraDuleep De ChickeraDuleep Kamil De Chickera was the 14th Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He was inaugurated in 2001.Educated at Royal College, Colombo representing the college at 1st XV Rugby, he gained his training for the ministry at Theological College of Lanka in Pilimatalawe, earning a B.Th thereafter...
- Lakdasa De MelLakdasa De MelLakdasa De Mel, MA was the first Bishop of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.Born to Sir Henry de Mel former Member of the Legislative Council, he was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo and went on to study at the University of Oxford, gaining a MA....
- Kenneth FernandoKenneth FernandoKenneth Michael James Fernando, B.A., BD is a former Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka.Educated at Royal College, Colombo and at the University of Oxford. He was made the Archdeacon of Colombo before he was elected as the Bishop of Colombo....
- Ivan Corea
- St. Luke's Church BorellaSt. Luke's Church BorellaSt. Luke's Church is situated in the Borella district of Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The church plays an important role within the history of the Church Missionary Society on the island and still remains a dominant figure within the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka.-Service of...
- St. Paul's Church (Milagiriya)
- Joseph SarvananthanJoseph SarvananthanVenerable Joseph Sarvananthan was an Anglican Priest, in the Diocese of Colombo of the Church of Ceylon, Church of England in Sri Lanka. He was made a Deacon in 1965 and ordained as a priest in 1966....
Publications
- One hundred years in Ceylon, or, The centenary volume of the Church Missionary Society in Ceylon, 1818-1918 (1922) Author: Balding, John William Madras: Printed at the Diocesan Press.
- The Church of Ceylon - her faith and mission Published in 1945, Printed at the Daily News Press by Bernard de Silva for the Church of Ceylon.
- The Church of Ceylon: A history, 1945-1995 Editor: Medis, Frederick Published for the Diocese of Colombo.
External links
- The Church of Ceylon (Anglican Communion)
- Anglican Church of Ceylon News
- A Sinhalese Hymn filmed at Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa - Anglican Church of Ceylon on You Tube
- Worship Resources including a Prayer for Sri Lanka written by Metropolitan Lakdasa de Mel
- The Church of Ceylon - World Council of Churches website