The Wolvendaal church is one of the oldest protestant churches in Sri Lanka. This is one of the most important Dutch buildings in the country.
Location
The church is situated in Pettah in the neighborhood of Colombo only a 15-minute drive away from central Colombo. Thus is within the easy reach of visitors staying in any Colombo hotel including the centrally located Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.
History
The church was built in 1749, in place of the old church in Colombo fort with the permission of the Dutch East India Company. The project was initiated with the control of governor Julius Valentyn Stein van Gollenesse. Construction was completed in 1757 after eight years.
Architecture
The church was constructed in the Doric style with thick walls. Lime plaster, large kabok and coral were used for building. The dome shape high roof in the center of the structure is topped with graceful lion. The inside of the church contains a baptismal font on an ornamental tripod stand, a number of ebony church chairs and a historic state pew.
Present day use
The Wolvendaal foundation was founded in association to the church in 2005. The foundation aims to establish peaceful relations between the numerous religions and races of the country.
Filled with wanderlust that seeks to explore distant shores and captivated by the colors and vibrancy of exotic cultures, Kanya Mae writes on the beautiful, exciting, and enchanting wonders of the world. She is a writer who not only has a passion for travel, but also has a background in fashion, art and media. Google+