Wolvendaal Church, Colombo

Wolvendaal Church, also called Wolvendaalse Kerk, was built for the Dutch Reformed community during the Dutch colonial period. The foundation stone was laid in 1749, and the church officially opened for worship on March 6, 1757. It replaced an earlier church from the mid-17th century and has remained in use ever since, making it one of the oldest active Protestant churches in the country.

The church is built in the shape of a Greek cross, with four arms of equal length. Its walls are unusually thick, nearly 1.5 meters (about 5 feet), and are made from kabok stone, combined with coral and lime plaster. This heavy construction helps keep the interior cool. The outside is plain, with whitewashed walls and very little decoration, which follows Dutch Protestant ideas that valued simplicity and function over visual display.

Inside, the church has a simple and orderly layout. A raised wooden pulpit carved from a single jak tree stands at the center, with wooden pews arranged around it, including a Governor’s Pew. Clear windows bring in natural light, and the floor is set with gravestones of Dutch governors and officials from the 17th and 18th centuries. The church is still used for services, and visitors may enter outside service times if they remain quiet and respectful.