5/5 Sudheera S. 3 months ago on Google • 391 reviews New
Wonderful
church
with
a
significant
historical
value,
connected
to
the
colonial
history
of
Ceylon
and
Nuwara
Eliya,
a
place
all
tourists
better
not
miss.
Now
(from
Jan
2024)
open
for
public
throughout
the
day
(earlier
used
to
be
open
only
from
1500
-
1800
hrs).
It's
an
Anglican
church,
considered
to
be
the
oldest
in
the
city,
consecrated
in
1852.
It's
a
cruciform
church
building
(clearly
visible
in
satellite
view
on
Google
maps)
with
a
conical
shaped
wooden
roof.
The
colorful
stained
glasses
is
a
highlight
of
the
building
which
are
artistic
masterpieces.
The
centenary
old
pipe
organ
had
been
restored
and
is
being
currently
used.
The
benches
and
most
of
the
furniture
and
fixtures
are
custom-made
from
imported
wood.
Most
are
preserved
in
it's
original
form.
The
Church
is
now
declared
(in
2007)
as
an
archeological
protected
monument.
There
are
a
number
of
memorial
plaques
on
the
walls
as
well
as
the
churchyard.
These
include
the
plaques
for
several
renowned
British
governors,
bureaucrats,
their
families,
friends
and
ex-servicemen
who
lost
their
lives
during
WW2.
These
include
-
Francis
Henry
Hamilton
(the
son
of
Gavin
Hamilton,
government
agent
for
revenue
&
commerce,
who
built
the
Hamilton
Canal),
Lady
Carolina
Ridgeway
(the
wife
of
Sir
Joseph
West
Ridgeway,
who
was
instrumental
in
building
the
Lady
Ridgeway
Hospital
in
Colombo),
family
members
of
Samuel
Baker.
Douglas,
the
caretaker,
is
very
knowledgeable
of
the
historical
importance
of
the
church
and
all
it's
content.
You'll
be
amazed
with
all
his
explanations.
The
Queen
Elizabeth
II
and
Prince
Philip
had
visited
the
Church
in
1954,
and
said
to
have
gifted
two
main
stained
glass
windows
in
remembrance
of
their
visit
(Douglas
will
show
you).
Highly
recommended
for
all
visitors
to
Little
England.
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