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by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

The Holy Trinity Church Nuwara Eliya celebrates its 150 years with all pomp and pageant on 24th February, Sunday. To make this historical event a most memorable event, the Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera will conduct a special thanks giving service.

Thousands of past and present parishioners including foreigners are expected to participate on the main day the 24th February, when a colourful procession starts from the Nuwara Eliya Post Office premises at 9 a.m. A four day ceremonies have already commenced for the occasion. The Holy Trinity Church, which was started in 1852, has a rich and eventful history during its 150 years. On Good Friday and Easter of 1954, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip the Duke of Edingburgh attended services in this church. The Queen gifted a blue carpet and a stain glass in remembrance of their visit.

Tracing the long history of this church, Miss C.F. Gordon Cumming, who had seen this church in the early eighteen seventies, has described it as "The pretty little cruciform church and the peaceful churchyard lie in a pleasant sheltered corner, surrounded by Rhododendrons, daturas, and other flowering shrubs, and overshadowed by one grand old tree with a gnarled twisted stem, such as one sometimes, sees in miniature on very rank heather". There is no trace of this tree now and the church has been enlarged twice since Miss Gordon Cumming saw it, but the general features are still the same. In 1845, a meeting was held to consider the question of building a church at an estimated cost of Sterling Pounds 900. The church records state that a gentleman of the name of Nelson was appointed architect, and the work was done chiefly by men of the 15th regiment, under the supervision of the commandant of Nuwara Eliya Major Brunker. Among the men who assisted him was Corporal Moore, a cleaver builder, whose services Bishop Chapman had later utilised for the building of the Cathedral. There was either delay in commencing, building operations, or the work was done very leisurely, for it was not until seven years after the first step were taken that the building was nearing completion. It was consecrated by Bishop Chapman on St. Matthias' Day, 24th February, 1952.

In the late eighteen eighties the question of enlarging the church was mooted, but there was some opposition to this day by those who favoured the construction of a new church near the old cemetery, two members offering to meet the cost. This suggestion did not apparently find favour with the majority of the congregation, who preferred the old site. The second enlargement took place in 1899, and a stone recording the fact is to be seen built into the church wall. The original church is the portion at the West end. The additions can be noted by the difference in the size of the Corbels supporting the main rafter.

Among the tablets to be seen in the church are those to the memory of Dr. G. Gardner, Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, whose death occurred suddenly shortly after he had taken lunch with Lord Torrinton. Captain William Fisher, father of Lord Fisher, who was thrown off his horse and killed: R.B. Downall, who represented the Planting Community in the Legislative Council for many years, and Lady Ridgeway, wife of Sir West Ridgeway, Governor of Ceylon. The churchyard also contains many interesting tombstones. Several Britishers and others keep on paying visits to this ancient church, where many of their ancestors have been buried, some of whom have lost their lives during the World War I and II. The Queen's uncle Lord Mountbatten had made frequent visits to this historical church during his stay in Ceylon, records the past history.

It was in 2001, two Britishers Rev. Cannon David Whittington and Mr. Paul Bell of Durham who had volunteered and repaired the 100 year old Pipe Organ of this church, at a cost of colossal amounts running into half a million rupees including their number of visits here.

Rev. Cannon David Whittington and Mr. Paul Bell of Durham had taken this voluntary task to repair the Organ, which had been out of order for the past 30 years. Paul Bell an ex-serviceman had served in the H.M.S. "Lanka' and after leaving the Royal Navy, he had qualified as an Engineer and works in the Diocese of Durham.

Paul Bell has already arrived in the country to participate in the 150 year old anniversary of the church and his friend Rev. Cannon David Whittington is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in July.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Vicar of the Church Augustine Phillips and his able steering committee, specially Ranjit Jacobs his wife Angeline Jacobs and the famous Architect of Perry and Russel, the man who constructed the Barns Hall New Wing, for giving this ancient and historical church the present look for this great occasion with the ancient architectural look.

A number of Britishers and others who have been either baptised or whose ancestors had lost their lives in the wars and buried in the church-yard are expected to visit here during the 150 years anniversary, added one of the officials of this church.

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