Church by the River Turns 150– By a Parishioner
Church of St. John the Evangelist Panadura 150th Jubilee
The Church of St. John the Evangelist in Panadura is set to enter its 150th year on September 14, 2025. Known as the Church by the River, it has long served as a spiritual and community hub, offering worship, education, and social support along the Bolgoda River.
- In the cool of the evening, with boats plying the river, this place becomes ideal for silent prayer and meditation
- The parish has grown through the years, nurturing faith, education, and community care for generations
Our 150th Jubilee emphasizes maintenance, human development, and spirituality, affirming God’s grace over the years.
The Church stands by the waters of the Bolgoda river, overlooking the railway bridge and the sea and is referred to as the Church by the river or “Ganga langa Palliya”.
Its Neon cross continues to shine at night as a land beacon to those at sea, symbolizing hope. This coincidentally, also ties in with name of the town, which is Panadura or “lamp at a distance”.
The Church which has stood at this site for well over a century, will now enter its 150th year on the 14th of September 2025. The year will commence with a service to mark the anniversary of the Church’s consecration, which will be attended by the Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Revd. Dushantha Rodrigo.
“In the cool of the evening, with the setting sun on the Western coast and boats plying up and down on the flowing waters of the river, this place becomes an ideal place for silent prayer and meditation”. (an extract from a past parish newsletter)
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It is possibly this vista that Gate Mudaliyar Susew de Soysa, saw, which led him and his wife Engeltina de Soysa Lamaetane (Nee Pieris) to fund and build the Church, which at the time, was able to seat 120 persons and incurred a cost of 1200 Sterling Pounds.
Prior to building the Church, a small Anglican community had regularly worshipped in the Government Boys’ English School building at the same site, which was relocated when the Church was built.
Services were conducted by the Catechist Fransisco De Mel, who was later ordained a Deacon in 1852 and subsequently ordained a priest in 1863. He was the 1st Anglican minister for the parish under the Colonial Chaplains of Moratuwa.
The parish extended from the old Digarola bridge in Moratuwa to the Kalutara Bridge and included the areas of Horethuduwa and Sarikkarimulla.
The Church was consecrated by the 4th Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Revd. R.S Copelston in the 1st year of his Episcopate and the occasion was graced by the then Governor, Rt. Hon. Sir William Henry Gregory.
This event also coincided with the laying of the foundation stone of Prince and Princess of Wales College in Moratuwa.
Since 1848, there have been thirty six clergymen who have served the parish, four of them being from the United Kingdom. Of those clergymen who served the parish, four went on to be appointed Archdeacons of the Diocese, both in Sri Lanka and overseas, while ten have been appointed Canons of the Cathedral of Colombo.
In the early years, the Church took an active role in education as well by running three schools. Educationist Cyril Arnold Jansz and his wife Amelia Jansz played a significant part in this aspect, culminating in the establishment of St. John’s College in 1903 where co-education took place.
The parish has grown over the years and there have been major renovations to accommodate the growing space requirements, first in 1941 and subsequently in 2001.
There have also been significant repairs done, such as the restoration of the stained-glass window in 1974 and the roof repair in 1984. The Parish remains vibrant through the many organisations which have grown since their inception many years ago. The Choir (1885), Sunday School (1887), Youth Fellowship (1947), Mothers Union (1953), Ladies Guild (1974), Junior Guild (2003) and the Men’s Guild (2013), all play their part in taking forward the ministry of the church.
As part of its sharing and caring ministry, the Church over the years has engaged in many aspects of supporting the wider community, while also attending to the need of its own Parishioners. These include building houses for those in need, distribution of Christmas and monthly hampers, providing a cup of tea and a snack for those receiving their monthly pensions, “share a meal program”, and the Modera Community project, which involved a medical clinic as well. Some of these continue to this date.
The events planned for the 150th Anniversary year are being handled by a steering committee, while the emphasis of this occasion is on “Maintenance, Human development and Spirituality”.
The programs will culminate with the 150th Anniversary on the 19th of September 2026, when once again the Bishop of Colombo will be the celebrant and preacher.
May the activities of the year ahead be an affirmation of God’s goodness and grace over the years, an appreciation of all those who do and have done their part, in whatever capacity and most importantly a commitment to continue its ministry as the Church by the River
