Wolvendaal Church

Wolvendaal Church

The oldest Protestant church in Colombo, the Wolvendaal Dutch Reformed Church is considered to be one of the most interesting Dutch relics in Sri Lanka. Started in 1749, the building was constructed over a period of eight years on the sight of an earlier Portuguese church on Wolfendahl Hill. Build in the shape of St Andrew’s cross, this large sized church, with a red-and-white Neo-Classical façade, is easy to spot. It boasts an elegant interior, with a beautiful wooden pulpit, lectern and pews as well as an organ with patterned pipes. There are memorial tablets on the walls, and the floor is paved with dombstones. A number of 18^th century headstones of Dutch governors as well as those of other Dutch officials can be seen in the south transept. Some of the oldestdombstones can be found against the northeast wall of the church. Visitors are advised to use the rear entrance. The old belfry that used to summon worshippers to the church in its early days now stands at Kayman’s Gate in the Pettah.