Australian Anglican Representatives Visit Kurunegala Diocese
2025 September 23
The Diocese of Kurunegala was blessed to welcome a group of Anglican visitors from Australia who met with our Bishop and clergy during their visit.
+ Click to read more
The historic St. Hilda’s Church, nestled in the picturesque Delta Estate of Puppurassa, was rededicated on Saturday, marking the completion of much-needed renovations to the more than century-old building.
St. Hilda’s Church, Delta Estate, Puppurassa, after the Renovations
The service was led by the Bishop of Kurunegala, Rt. Rev. Nishantha Fernando, with the participation of the Archdeacon Ven. Sanath Medagamgoda. Several other priests also joined in the celebration, together with the current priest-in-charge of the church, Rev. Michael Saminathan. The occasion began with a vibrant Tamil traditional parade of drums and worshippers, as the bishop was ceremonially welcomed to the church before presiding over the rededication.
Church before renovations in March 2017 | Photograph by David Colin-Thomé | © 2017 www.historyofceylontea.com
St. Hilda’s Church, originally built in 1903 during the British colonial era, was established to serve the spiritual needs of planters in the hill country. The church, with its English village-style architecture, stands as a reminder of the region’s rich plantation history.
Delta Estate itself dates back to the early 19th century, first opened in 1838 by the Ven. James Moncrieff Sutherland Glenie, the second Archdeacon of Colombo (1828–1843, acting from 1824). Glenie, known for his enthusiasm for coffee planting and agricultural experiments, was instrumental in opening up the estate, which at the time adjoined the Rothschild estate. This was an era before the formation of the independent Church of Ceylon, when Anglican work in the island functioned under the Diocese of Calcutta.
Like many plantations in the Pussellawa region, Delta began with coffee cultivation in the 1840s and 1850s before transitioning to tea, which continues to define the area today.
With the successful renovation now complete, St. Hilda’s Church remains not only a place of worship but also a historic landmark worth visiting, admired for both its heritage and iconic setting amid the lush tea estates of the central highlands.