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.
Christ Church, Mount Lavinia is known as the only open door church in Sri Lanka. Since 1952 the door of the church is open for whole of the day and night.
Christ Church (ගල්කිස්ස ක්රිස්තු දේවස්ථානය) is an Anglican church situated in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. The church is located on the wayside of the Colombo-Galle main road approximately 12.3 km distance from Colombo Fort Station. The history of the Galkissa Christ Church is running back to the 19th century. On 16 February 1843, the church was consecrated by Bishop Trevor Spencer, the second bishop of Madras.
The ancient four tombs engravings in the Christian cemetery in the Grama Niladhari Division of Dehiwela South, in the Ratmalana Divisional Secretary’s Division, are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification published on 6 June 2008.
Christ Church, Galkissa, is a significant architectural landmark in Sri Lanka, known for its Gothic style and historical importance. The church's architecture reflects the early Gothic period, characterized by ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and pointed arches. The original design was by British architect W. A. Tunstall, and the church was built with local materials, primarily Kabook. The church's structure is articulated in a way that resembles a skeleton, with pointed arches and a steeply pitched roof that allows for the upper part of the nave to be covered by a clerestory. The church's graveyard, which includes four tombs, has been formally recognized as an archaeological protected monument. The church's architectural significance is further highlighted by its location on the Colombo-Galle main road, making it a prominent site for both religious and historical reasons.