Diocese of Colombo commences Diocesan Council

125th Anniversary celebrations today

The Colombo Diocese of the Anglican Church of Ceylon will commence celebrations of its 125th Diocesan Council sessions today,( 22 October), with a special Thanksgiving Eucharist at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, which is open to the public.

Another public event to commemorate the anniversary will be a public lecture titled ‘The Church’s Role and Responsibility in Social Reform,’ to be delivered on Monday, 25 October at 5 p.m. at the Diocesan Chambers by Bishop John Packer, Bishop of Ripon & Leeds, UK, who is the Chief Guest at the anniversary celebrations.

A special 125th Anniversary Commemorative Stamp and First Day Cover was issued last week. 

Several other anniversary events are also being held, including the setting up of a special 125th Anniversary Endowment Fund to provide assistance to the helpless and harassed in the country, as well as the launch of a book titled ‘Salient Trends of the Diocesan Council over the past 125 years.’

The Diocesan Council is the policy making body of the Diocese, its ‘parliament’ in effect, and meets annually for about two to three days to review and plan the work and mission of the Church. Participants at the Council comprise the bishop, clergy and lay representatives from all the churches in the Diocese. The Ordinance of 1998 enacted by the governing body of the Church of Ceylon gives the Diocese the necessary authority without recourse to Parliament.

The Anglican Church in Sri Lanka dates from about 1798 and was, at the time, called the Church of England in Ceylon, belonging to the Diocese of London.

The present Diocese of Colombo was established in 1845 with the Rt. Rev. James Chapman serving as the first Bishop of Colombo. The first authoritative and legislative Diocesan Council was held on 7 July 1886 and was presided over by Bishop R.S. Coplestone, the fourth Bishop of Colombo.

The first Sri Lankan Bishop was appointed at the 58th Session of the Diocesan Council held in October 1943, following a resolution to ‘adequately meet the needs of the Diocese.’ with, Revd. Lakdasa de Mel consecrated as Bishop in 1945.

The Diocese of Colombo pioneered education in Sri Lanka, setting up several schools around the country, which are thriving entities even today. The Diocese is also actively engaged in the running of schools and vocational centres around the country for differently- abled people with special needs, as well as a variety of community projects around the country.

The Diocese of Colombo actively pursues inter-faith and ecumenical relations, and strives to work in partnership with other faiths and with other Christian denominations.