Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka

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Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka
Wolfendahl church.jpg
Classification Protestant
Orientation Reformed, Calvinist
Polity Presbyterian
Associations World Communion of Reformed Churches, World Reformed Fellowship, National Christian Council in Sri Lanka, National Evangelical Christian Alliance in Sri Lanka
Region Sri Lanka
Origin 1642
Sri Lanka
Branched from Dutch Reformed Church
Separations Lanka Reformed Church
Congregations 31
Members 5,000[1]

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.

History

Beginnings and development

In a Galle on October 6, 1642 was the first Protestant ministration after Willem Jacobsz 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 came already 3 religions was present, Buddhism, Hinduism and Catholicism. All Roman Catholic churches, schools, and monasteries were transferred to the Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka. 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. Separate Tamil and Singhala congregation formed.[2]

Recent history

In 1992 the church announced the 350th anniversary. The church is the oldest Protestant denomination in the island of Sri Lanka, and the Wolvendaal ( means the Valley of Wolves) Church is the oldest Protestant church in use in the country of Sri Lanka, it celebrates its 253rd anniversary this year.[3][4] Interest was made the increase and broaden the church membership. In 2008 the Church changed its name to Christian Reformed Church in Sri Lanka.[5]

Current status

The church currently has 31 churches and over 5,000 adherents. The church office is located in Galle Road, Colombo.[6][7]

Doctrine and practice

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)[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ http://www.srilankaheritages.com/christianity-wolfendhal.html
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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