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Rt. Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo, Bishop of Colombo, joined the congregation of Christ Church, Monaragala on the occasion of the opening of their new church building, marking a significant milestone in the life and ministry of the parish.

The Bishop of Colombo at the altar during the opening of Christ Church, Monaragala.

Christ Church, Monaragala, located in the Deanery of Uva within the Diocese of Colombo, has a long and faithful history. The congregation began as a small house church in the mid-1980s and has continued its witness through many changing seasons of life, worshipping and serving God with perseverance and hope.

Former Bishop Keerthisiri Fernando, reflecting on the journey of the congregation, recalled first encountering this house church during his field education in the mid-1980s under the guidance of the late Fr. Michael Rodrigo. In the years that followed, the congregation continued to gather faithfully as a house church, even during times of uncertainty and challenge.

While serving as a curate of St. Mark’s Church, Badulla, Bishop Keerthisiri Fernando was privileged to minister alongside Rev’d Canon Moses Dhanaraj, supporting the congregation in its spiritual life and mission. In the mid-2010s, during his tenure as Archdeacon of Nuwara Eliya, further efforts were made to sustain and develop the congregation, laying the groundwork for a more permanent place of worship.

Today, the opening of this new church building stands as a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the steadfast commitment of the people of Christ Church, Monaragala. What once began in a home has now become a sustainable church, dedicated to the glory of God and the extension of God’s Kingdom.

The Church of Ceylon gives thanks for this new chapter in the life of the parish and prays for God’s continued blessing upon its ministry and witness in the Uva region.

“Praise God, the Ultimate Reality.”