161st Anniversary celebrations of Wellawatte methodist church

by Richard Dwight

The Methodist Church at Wellawatte junction on Galle Road alongside first Chapel Lane, with its uniquely elegant edifice and illuminated Red Cross by night - has verily been a source of comfort and strength to the many, as the 161 years of its existence kept rolling along.

The Church or the 'House Chapel' as referred to in those earlier days, had for its forerunner a school established in 1818 with weekly prayer meetings being held in the home of one family. The numbers attending these prayer meetings by 1843 was steadily on the increase, that necessitated Rev. C.B. Gogerly to think of a 'House Chapel', in other words a mini church. And so on the 21st of January 1844 a House Chapel was opened near the 'Boys' Industrial Home' Havelock road Colombo, under the care and guidance of Rev. David Silva. The Church with unflagging zeal flourished, which gave rise to the birth of the Wellawatte Society of the Methodist Church.

The Church kept forging ahead when in January 1845 a dedicated and committed member of the Sinhala Society donated a block of land, and a fairly moderate Church was built. In the same year a mixed school was established, to help in the education of the children in the area.

Twenty one years after the death of the Minister Rev. Gogerly in 1859, a piece of land in 1880 was purchased by Galle Road, Wellawatte (its present location) and January 7, 1899 the foundation stone for a new Chapel was laid on the site by the Rev. Marshal Hartley which had a representative gathering comprising members of the Sinhala, Tamil and English congregations, clergy and members of the Civil and Military establishments. Addresses were made by the clergy whose names are remembered by many even today ie, Hartley, Fonseka, Moscrop and Mendis.

There being sufficient land behind the Church, St. Clares College came into being in 1926, as well as a manse for the resident Minister. After 39 years a decision was taken to replace the old church on Galle Road, with something more elaborate to be modern and, the final service was held on the building on the 12th of May 1940 at which the Revds: D.J. Batholameuz, H. de. S. Wickremaratne and F.M. Kedward presided. The foundation stone for the present building was laid on October 14, 1939 and completed and dedicated on July 1, 1940 by the Rev. H.R. Cornish. It was of an ultra modern design for the time, and was said to resemble Judson College Chapel in Rangoon.

Rev. F.M. Kedward made a great contribution at that time, supervising the construction and monitoring the expenditure. amils, Burghers and Sinhalese worshipped together in this Church, contributing much to society, and also to the surrounding secular community.

This year's 161st Anniversary celebrations of the Wellawatte Methodist Church, will take the form of a thanksgiving service to be held on Sunday July 23 at 8.30 a.m, which will be conducted by the resident Minister, Rev. Asiri perera and be followed by the laying of the foundation stone for a two storeyed building by the Sri Lanka Methodist Church President, Rev. Noel Fernando.