The Trinity College Kandy Chapel

Kandy is a city that is famous for its natural beauty. The gigantic set of cliffs adds a mesmerizing view while being a guardian to the ancient city. The breathtaking view of the aquatic lake enhances the beauty of the city. The weather that is not so cold and not so hot creates a wholesome living situation for the citizens. So simply… Kandy has been blessed with beauty.

And in this beautiful city, there are so many buildings and places that are embedded with a great history and sentimental value. The Trinity College Chapel is one of those specific historical buildings the City can boast of… It goes back in history and even today it is a very famous chapel in Kandy city.

We all know that Trinity College, Kandy is one of the oldest and a prestigious private college in Kandy. The school was established in Eighteen Fifty-Seven (1857) as per the request of the local Anglican crowd to send their boys to a school that has an Anglican background. And eventually, the school was developed and today there is no Sri Lankan who does not know this school, and especially the Handsome Trinitians are very famous among the girls’ schools in Sri Lanka.

The beautiful chapel was constructed in Nineteen Thirty-Five (1935) when Rev. Gaster was the Vise Principal. Rev. Gaster was also an architect which gave an additional nudge to make this dream come true. The original idea to draw the blueprint of the chapel was blossomed in Rev. Gaster’s mind after seeing the ancient castles of Kings in Polonnaruwa.

In the beginning, there were no sufficient funds to execute the plan. Yet the staff members requested their universities and colleges in the UK and they donated the required amount without any hesitation. Like today, there were no cranes and backhoes and not even Lorries. So the entire construction was done by skillful manpower. The Chapel consists of fifty-four granite pillars. And the pillar blocks were not set side where you can pick up just like building blocks and set them up. The blocks were miles away and they were travelled from there using strong elephants and then carried up the hill. Can you imagine how hard it must have been?

The most intriguing creation in the chapel is the wooden carvings and the murals painted on the walls. These murals were done by a famous artist; David Paynter was also a student who studied in the very same college a few years back. He has managed to exquisite beauty by finely painting the characters and related stories that are connected with Jesus. He has paid attention to every single detail that perfectly portrayed even the curves and edges in humans.

The wood was taken from Kekirawa and Mawanella. The wood pieces were fined carved by the talented carpenters. The doors, the windows and even the wooden beams were finely polished and designed by the carving of Pekadas. You cannot tell the difference between the carvings in the chapel and the carvings in dewalas such as Ambekke.

The chapel has a side chapel as well. This is commonly used for the prayer services that take place On Wednesdays for the Boarders in the college. And if you want some alone time with God, where you could pray privately, the Side Chapel doors will always be open.

After years of assembling, attaching, chopping, polishing, carving and painting the Chapel was finally ready to welcome the Trinitians to her hands to bring blessings from God in Nineteen Thirty-Five (1935). Even today, they are being blessed for their outstanding performances and achievements.

I have got the privilege to visit the exclusive Trinity College chapel several times. The peaceful leafy atmosphere is ideal for a Chapel’s surrounding. The soft breeze that blows from the open area can lift all your troubles. It’s like a guardian angel that God has sent just to cure your troubled soul. There are many Trinitians who received blessings in this chapel and there are many students who are receiving the blessing at this chapel. And even in the future, there will be young Trinitians who will be blessed at this esteemed chapel.