St. Andrew's Scots Kirk

73 Galle Road, Colombo 3

Last updated by savan on 9 August 2012

The beauty of any city lies in its ability to transport you from one world to another in the space of a few meters. London, New York and Paris are famous for their collections of little worlds and communities - turn down a street, an alleyway, and you can enter what seems a completely different universe.

It might not be quite on the same scale, but Colombo too can transport you; spend an afternoon pushing through the pavements (or lack thereof) of Pettah and then walk the few meters to Hilton hotel’s lobby and order an iced tea, the contrast couldn’t be higher.

But that’s perhaps a crude example. Actually the city offers much more beautiful and subtle contrasts, some that you can just stumble into.

The Scots Kirk

At some point last week we were pushing our way through Kollupitiya’s evening rush - the screeching flow of the Galle Road, the green’s 24 hour bustle, Colombo’s best attempt at a skyline looming over us – when we came across St Andrew’s church, or the Scots Kirk.

Now everyone (every Colombar) knows or should know this squat stone church near the Cinnamon Grand Hotel but I suspect very few people have actually been inside.

Which is a mistake, as we discovered it’s really quite lovely. We walked in scruffy and disheveled on a midweek evening and found ourselves in a world of white-washed walls, dark wood, stained glass- and wonderful choral singing.

This was entirely accidental, the church looked interesting, we wandered in and the choir happened to be rehearsing for their Sunday service. They also happen to be a rather good choir, so sitting on the well polished old pews, we found ourselves closing our eyes to focus on nothing but the best notes.

In hardly a minute we forgot the heat, the looming bus journey, the necessity for kottu rotti and were in another world; some sort of eternal colonial Christmas with everyone in a light suit and possibly carrying a pith helmet.

St Andrews has actually always been something of another world. This was the planter’s church built by homesick Scottish tea-planters in 1842 and traditionally the congregation was predominantly European. Unlike Colombo’s catholic churches or even the Anglican Church at Polwatte where the congregation was predominantly Ceylonese (as we were known then).

This is where the white men came to worship their god and it is unmistakably British/Scotts – austere, wood and stone, without the large icons common to most Sri Lankan churches, though there is some lovely stained glass work.

Again, it’s the attractive simplicity that makes it a real contender for most beautiful church in Colombo. (I’ve never really considered getting married in a Church but if I did this would be high on my chapel shortlist)

Like all religious spaces in the city (maybe the ganga ramaya excepted) when not holding a service it’s a calming and peaceful oasis. While skyscrapers now loom over it the neighbouring monstrosities almost ad to its appeal as a timeless space .

It’s a wonderful place and on our visit the rehearsing choir elevated it to outright heavenly- the good things that happen when you drift, which is why we encourage people to YAMU - literally to go, wander and drift out of their everyday routines.

Tips

The main service is on Sunday at 9.30 (come for the choir). We haven’t got a hold of their rehearsal schedule. Though the church was originally Presbyterian it now describes itself as interdenominational - so all are welcome, we certainly didn’t feel unwelcome and we don’t belong to any denomination.

Comments

Denham Pereira
9 August 2012
Permalink

Thank you for your kind comments on St. Andrew's Scots Kirk. So happy that you found peace within. The Choir mentioned in your article is actually the Colombo Philharmonic Choir who were rehearsing for their upcoming concert "Lux Aeterna" which will be held at St. Andrew's on the 17th of August at 7.30 p.m. So if you like to hear more of them I highly recommend that you come or it.

Denham Pereira
9 August 2012
Permalink

*for

Fae Egan
26 November 2012
Permalink

Reading your article on Scots Kirk brought back some very happy memories for me. During my much younger years (!), living in Colombo, Scots Kirk was the church my family attended. Every Sunday evening a very pleasant hour was spent at Scots Kirk. I also attended Sunday school! It is great to see Scots Kirk looking so good.
Ryan
23 April 2013
Permalink

Thank You Yamu for this nice article…
Good luck and may the God be with you all!