Classification Protestant Polity Presbyterian Origin 1642
Sri Lanka | Orientation Reformed, Calvinist Region Sri Lanka | |
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Associations World Communion of Reformed Churches, World Reformed Fellowship, National Christian Council in Sri Lanka, National Evangelical Christian Alliance in Sri Lanka | ||
The Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka (formerly known as the Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka) is the oldest Protestant church on the island.
Contents
Beginnings and development
In a Galle on 6 October 1642 was the first Protestant ministration after Willem Jacobszoon Coster captured the fort in 1640. Protestantism was introduced in Sri Lanka in 1658 by Dutch missionaries after the Dutch defeated the Portuguese on the island. When the Dutch took over there were already three religions was present, Buddhism, Hinduism and Catholicism. All Roman Catholic churches, schools, and monasteries were transferred to the Dutch Reformed Church. The Church membership grew rapidly in the 18th century there were over 53,000 members in Colombo and 200,000 in Jaffna. the reformed faith was propagated by its schools. During a period the Reformed Church was the state religion. The Dutch period started in 1656 and lasted until late 1700. In 1796 the British occupied the Maritime Province of Ceylon, and Ceylon remained British Crown Colony for the next 150 years. When the island become a British colony, many Dutch predicants left and the church system collapsed. In the 19th and 20th centuries church membership consisted of the Burghers, this word means citizens, they are not necessarily of Dutch origin, but were persons of Calvinist adherence. But in the 19th century membership begin to broaden, with separate Tamil and Singhala congregations being formed.
Recent history
In 1992 the church announced its 350th anniversary. The church is the oldest Protestant denomination in the island of Sri Lanka, and the Wolvendaal (which means the 'Valley of Wolves') Church is the oldest Protestant church in use in the country of Sri Lanka, it celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2007. Interest was made the increase and broaden the church membership. In 2008 the Church changed its name to Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka.
Current status
The church currently has 31 churches and over 5,000 adherents. The church office is located in Galle Road, Colombo.
Creeds
Confessions
Relationships
The church has sister church relations with the Christian Reformed Church in North America and since 2008 the fraternal relation was restored with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)