Christ Church, Matale

{{Short description|Anglican church in Sri Lanka}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}

{{EngvarB|date=October 2021}}

{{infobox church

| name = Christ Church, Matale

| coordinates = {{coord|7|27|49|N|80|37|24|E|type:landmark|display=it}}

| location = Higgolla Mawatha, Matale, Sri Lanka

| image =

| denomination = Anglican, Church of Ceylon

| consecrated date = 30 December 1860

| functional status = Active

| heritage designation = Archaeological protected monument

| architectural type = Church

| style = Neo-Gothic

| rite =

| caption =

| vicar = Rev.

}}

Christ Church, Matale ({{langx|si|ක්‍රිස්තු දේවස්ථානය, මාතලේ}}) is an Anglican church and the oldest church in Matale, Sri Lanka.{{cite web|url=http://dioceseofkurunegala.com/parishes_list_of_kurunagala_diocese.php?cid=20|title=Christ Church|publisher= Diocese of Kurunegala|access-date=18 October 2021}}

The church is located on the site of the former Fort MacDowall, which was abandoned in 1836. It sits on a small hill, with views over the entrance to Matale via Trincomalee. The church was erected and furnished by Rev. William Frederick Kelly, the colonial chaplain for the area.{{cite journal|title=Mission Field: A Monthly Record of the Proceedings of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts|volume=55|publisher=Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts|date=1910|page=144}} Kelly and thirty six others sent a petition to Bishop Chapman, to dedicate and consecrate Christ Church. The church was consecrated by Bishop James Chapman on 29 December 1860.{{cite book|title=The Church of Ceylon: A History, 1945-1995|editor=Medis, Frederick|publisher=Church of Ceylon: Diocese of Colombo|date=1995|page=118|isbn=9789559411000}}{{cite book|title=A History of the Diocese of Colombo: A Centenary Volume|editor=Beven, F. Lorenz|publisher=Times of Ceylon Company|date=1946|page=247}} The parsonage was opened on 16 August 1862. Kelly was succeeded by Rev. S. T. Taylor in 1865, following Kelly's appointment as Colonial chaplain in Nuwara Eliya.

The church celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1935, its centenary on 29 January 1961 and its 125th anniversary on 6 September 1986. In 1985 the church was gutted by fire and subsequently completely restored, during which time services were held in the Baptist Church.{{cite news|url=http://btoptions.lk/serendib/article.php?issue=41&id=1043|title=The Secrets of Matale|publisher=Sri Lankan Airlines|work=Serendib|date=May 2013|access-date=18 October 2021}} A special service held in this church, in connection with the Coronation of His Majesty King George V, and Queen Mary, on 22 June 1911. The offertory on that was given to the King Edward VIII.Anti Tuberculosis Fund. (Ref. Ceylon Churchman Report for the year ending 20 June 1911) The church celebrated its 150th anniversary on 2 October 2010.{{cite news|url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2010/01/24/mag13.asp|title=Meandering along Matale|newspaper=The Sunday Observer|first=Nilma|last=Dole|date=24 January 2010|access-date=18 October 2021}}