Wolvendaal Church
Wolvendaal Church
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.0
142 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
57
Average
27
Poor
5
Terrible
3
LolaGo1
Washington DC, DC6,632 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
This was the last attraction we visited in our tuktuk tour. There are lots of construnction materials around it and my tuktuk driver informed me that it is closed for renovation. From the poor condition of its exteriors, we decided to leave promptly.
Written March 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vikas Singh
Ghaziabad, India4,140 contributions
Feb 2014 • Family
The Wolvendaal Church was built by the Dutch Reformed Church with assistance of VOC Company in 1749. When the church was built, this area was a wild area beyond the city walls. The Dutch mistook the packs of roaming jackals for wolves, and the area became known as Wolf’s Dale, or Wolvendaal in Dutch. The church, whose foundations were laid in 1749, took 8 years to build and is capable of seating 1000 persons. Completed on 6th of March 1757, it was dedicated for public worship by Rev. Matthias Wirmelskircher, Rector of the Colombo Seminary. The church was constructed in the Doric style of the period, in the form of a Greek cross, with walls nearly five feet thick, over which the gables have been raised. The dome was originally arched with brick and surmounted with a brazen lion. This lion had a crown on its head, bearing a sword in one hand and seven arrows in the other, representing the seven united provinces of the Dutch Republic. In 1856, a bolt of lightning destroyed this lion and seriously damaged the dome. The roof was later replaced with an iron covering. The real treasure is its Dutch furniture. The Dutch governors had a special pew made with elegant carved ebony chairs. The wooden pulpit, ebony and calamander chairs, baptismal font and lectern all belong to the Dutch era. The floor is paved with tombstones of those who lie buried within the church. One can find many famous names of 300 year Sri Lankan history: Dutch, Burgher, Singhalese, Tamil and English.
Written July 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dingo_6152
Fremantle, Australia3,340 contributions
Jan 2014 • Couples
Sandwiched in the middle of the busy Pettah district sits the historical Wolvendaal church. It's not that easy to find unless your Tuk Tuk driver drives you (or you've got a really good map of the area). It is a quiet reflective oasis in this part of town. The oldest church in Colombo (3rd oldest in Sri Lanka) - is still a working church and because its a Dutch Protestant church its not an ornate tourist attraction however it is steeped in history. The church's verger/caretaker is knowledgable, patient and happy to show you around the church and the grounds and explain the building's quirky heritage. There are no fees as its a normal church however after having a guided tour and seeing that it is in need of repairs I was more than happy to make a donation to assist in its upkeep.
Written February 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carel O
Riyadh24 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
This is a wonderful place full of history. Many of the decoration is original, since 1749. The caretaker can read the Dutch on the graves and knows the history.
Written July 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FoodHound_12
Kuala Lumpur50 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
Very historical and beautiful church right in the centre of downtown Colombo. Many items are well preserved and in their original state like the pews, ministers' chambers and an ancient hand-pumped organ which is more than a century old.
Written June 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert188633
The Hague, The Netherlands84 contributions
Dec 2013 • Solo
Wolfendal Church was the main church of Dutch colonial Ceylon. In addition to a 19th century organ, original church furniture and a great number of fascinating tomb stones it also keeps extraordinary Church silver dishes and bowls, some of them 17th century. It is a quiet place in an otherwise noisy area, and when you happen to be there during divine service it is a memorable visit!
Written December 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ruwan w
Colombo, Sri Lanka54 contributions
Apr 2012
The Dutch word Wolvendaal means the ‘Dale of Wolves’ and it relates to an area outside the Fort of Colombo in Sri Lanka which was in the 17th century covered with swamps and marshland. Animals identified as wolves (in fact they were jackals!) used to roam here unhindered. In the middle of this area, on a hill overlooking Colombo, stands the majestic Wolvendaal Church. Built in 1749, it is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use on the island and considered one of the most beautiful and historically interesting churches of South Asia.
very good place to visit.
very good place to visit.
Written September 28, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vimalanathan Ba... K
Colombo, Sri Lanka54 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
Very old church with rich history...been once..nothing much for me mention about that..other wise bit quit place.
Written April 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joshua
Bengaluru, India21 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
If you like history, and historical monuments, this is a must-see monument during your visit to Sri Lanka. If you're lucky to get the services of the local guide who also works at the church, you will be given a memorable tour, filled with facts and humour, of this magnificent church. The tombstones, with their engravings are remarkable, and tells you of the history of the early Dutch seafarers.
Written April 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
steviecook58
Shrewsbury, UK144 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
This was a good place to visit even if you are not of the particular faith of this church.
So much history and the guy who looks after the church will take you round and will explain the history, very knowledgeable. Make sure you give a donation to the church.
So much history and the guy who looks after the church will take you round and will explain the history, very knowledgeable. Make sure you give a donation to the church.
Written May 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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