147th Anniversary of Holy Emmanuel Church

The 147th Anniversary of Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa will be celebrated on December 27 and incumbent Rev. Nilanga Gunasekara welcomes all for the anniversary service on the 27th at 6.00 pm commencing with a procession.

The history of the Anglican Church in Moratuwa dates back to 1799. On the site of the present municipal cemetery behind Holy Emmanuel Church, stood an old Dutch building. In addition to being used as a school, services were held in this building from 1799 until it was pulled down in 1815 to be replaced by the first Anglican church built in Moratuwa.

The founder of Holy Emmanuel Church, Gate Mudaliyar Jeronis de Soysa was born on April 19, 1797. He commenced his education from his young days at a Buddhist temple in Moratuwa and devoted his time mainly to the study of medicine, astrology and comparative religion. Jeronis de Soysa was called to his eternal rest at the age of 65 on May 28, 1862.