Churches in Kandy

The conversion of Kandyan population necessitated the building of proper places of worship. Starting from the Peradeniya gardens along the old road to Kandy are three churches of interest. The first one is St John’s, the second is St Mark’s. Only the Parish priest at St John’s has the key to this one and he is ever ready to show it. The third one is St Paul’s church in the premises of the esplanade of the Maligawa. It contains interesting tombstones and epithets. The wind organ still works and the stained glass windows are delightful. A Sunday service can also be attended.

It must be noted that the legitimacy of the kingdom could only be established by direct royal lineage. The Portuguese held prisoner the last princess of Kandy in their fort at Mannar awaiting an opportunity to crown a Portuguese nobleman by giving this princess in marriage. They sent to Kandy the princess called Dona Catherina (Kusumasana devi) and a Portuguese escorted by Kandyan noble man called Don Juan (Konnappu Bandara) who was also brought up by the Portuguese.Dona Catharina and Konnappu Bandara were Singhalese, who spoke also Portuguese and were practicing Christians. On the way to Kandy Bandara and is partisans rebelled and killed the Portuguese. He took the princess to Kandy and married her. Thus he crowned himself as a Buddhist king and took the name of Vimala Dharma Suriya I (1592 – 1627 A.D.).

Many of the churches in Kandy were built only after the advent of the British although Christianity was well implanted in the island by the Portuguese missionaries.  

Trinity College Chapel

The Christian Missionary Society College was established around 1822. This serene open-air chapel is a masterpiece of the Kandyan craftsman to Christian religious architecture. It also contains a crucifixion done by Sri Lankan artist David Paynter, where unusually the scene depicts an Asian looking beardless Christ in a tropical landscape.

Duration of visit:  ½ day.