According to the account of the historian Valentyn, the first
reference to a church in Mount Lavinia is in 1705 where it mentions
about a church, roofed with tiles and built upon 10 masonry and 20
stone pillars with a wall of clay 3½ft high. The stone pillars which
had used for the church are said to be brought from a temple at
Pepiliyana. In 1803, during the British rule it is said that there
was a church in Mount Lavinia without a roof but with supporting
pillars. At that time the country residence of Governor Sir Robert
Brownrigg was with the proximity of the Church at Mount-Lavinia and
he (the governor) evinced a personal interest to restore the church
again in 1820. The consecration of the restored church was held on
16 February 1843 by the Bishop of Madras, George Spencer. The church
which was mentioned during the British time period is believed to be
the same church described by the historian Valentyn in 1705.