Christianity in Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
Christianity is a minority religion in Sri Lanka
. Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Portuguese
in 1505. There were conversions by Dutch
persons in the 17th century, which resulted in a percentage of church members in excess of 10%. This figure decreased. The Christian population of Sri Lanka includes members of both the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups.
About 7% of the population (1,400,000 persons) are Roman Catholic. Catholicism was first introduced by the Portuguese, who left a notable mark in the continued use of Portuguese surnames even today by many Catholics. Dutch missionaries continued to maintain the religion after the Portuguese were expelled, and today most Sri Lankan Christians are Catholic. There is a Roman Catholic archbishop
and 10 other Roman Catholic bishops.
The other dioceses are:
. The Lanka Lutheran Church
has about 1,200 members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
claims 1,200 members in Sri Lanka.
According to Operation World
, there has been a significant growth of evangelical Christianity since 1980. The main Protestant churches in Sri Lanka are Anglican, Methodist, Baptist
and Salvation Army
. The Church of Ceylon
is an extra-provincial Anglican church, while the Church of South India
(a united church of Anglicans, Presbyterians, and other Protestants) is a full member of the Anglican Communion
and has a diocese in Jaffna. The Anglican Church has a strong effect on people in some areas. Methodist missionaries established 187 school of which only 2 remains (Wesley College and Methodist College) because all the other schools were taken over by the government. Methodism has over 40,000 followers in Sri Lanka with 45 circuits, 200 churches and 120 pastors. Moratuwa Area and Kutunayake Negombo Areas are the regions where many Methodists live. In 2005 and 2006 the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka had a very difficult time during a period of anti-Christian violence.
St. Andrew's Church in Colombo is a congregation of the Church of Scotland
. For administrative purposes it is part of the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Europe
.
As per 2010 year book of Jehovah's Witnesses
there are around 4,706 active member's in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1505. There were conversions by Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
persons in the 17th century, which resulted in a percentage of church members in excess of 10%. This figure decreased. The Christian population of Sri Lanka includes members of both the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups.
Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. It was erected as the Diocese of Ceylon from Diocese of Cochin by Pope Gregory XVI on December 3, 1834, and renamed as the Diocese of Colombo on February 17,...
and 10 other Roman Catholic bishops.
The other dioceses are:
- Diocese of AnuradhapuraRoman Catholic Diocese of AnuradhapuraThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Anuradhapura is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka....
- Diocese of BadullaRoman Catholic Diocese of BadullaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Badulla is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.Erected as the Diocese of Badulla in 1972, the diocese was created from territory in the Diocese of Kandy...
- Diocese of ChilawRoman Catholic Diocese of ChilawThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Chilaw is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.Erected as the Diocese of Galle in 1939, the diocese is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Colombo...
- Diocese of GalleRoman Catholic Diocese of GalleThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Galle is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.Erected as the Diocese of Galle in 1893, the diocese is suffragan to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo...
- Diocese of Jaffna
- Diocese of KandyRoman Catholic Diocese of KandyThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Kandy is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.Originally erected as the apostolic vicariate of Kandy in 1883, the diocese was elevated to a full diocese in 1886, and became a suffragan to the Archdiocese of Colombo...
- Diocese of KurunegalaRoman Catholic Diocese of KurunegalaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Kurunegala is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka....
- Diocese of MannarRoman Catholic Diocese of MannarThe Diocese of Mannar is a Roman Catholic diocese for northern Sri Lanka. The current bishop is Rayappu Joseph.-History:The Diocese of Mannar was created on 24 January 1981 from parts of the Diocese of Jaffna....
- Diocese of RatnapuraRoman Catholic Diocese of RatnapuraThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Ratnapura is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka....
- Diocese of Trincomalee-BatticaloaRoman Catholic Diocese of Trincomalee-BatticaloaThe Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa is a Roman Catholic diocese for eastern Sri Lanka. The current bishop is Joseph Kingsley Swampillai.-History:...
Protestants
About 160,000 persons in Sri Lanka (0.8%) are Protestants. There are about 2000 people (1998) affiliated with congregations belonging to the Baptist World AllianceBaptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London during the first Baptist World Congress.-History:...
. The Lanka Lutheran Church
Lanka Lutheran Church
The Lanka Lutheran Church is a Lutheran body that exists in Sri Lanka. It is a denomination of around 5000 members, in fellowship with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod since 2001. As a full member of the Lutheran World Federation, it is also in full communion with all other Lutheran World...
has about 1,200 members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sri Lanka
As of year-end 2007, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 1,228 members in 1 district and 4 branches in Sri Lanka.-History:Two Mormon missionaries, Chauncey W. West and Benjamin F. Dewey, arrived in Ceylon in May 1853...
claims 1,200 members in Sri Lanka.
According to Operation World
Operation World
Operation World is a reference book and prayer guide, begun by Patrick Johnstone and continued by Jason Mandryk, both from WEC International. Operation World is published by , and produced by...
, there has been a significant growth of evangelical Christianity since 1980. The main Protestant churches in Sri Lanka are Anglican, Methodist, Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
and Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. The Church of Ceylon
Church of Ceylon
The Church of Ceylon, which is the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka, was established with the appointment of its first Bishop, Rt Rev James Chapman in 1845 as the Bishop of Colombo.-The Dioceses of Colombo and Kurunegala:...
is an extra-provincial Anglican church, while the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
(a united church of Anglicans, Presbyterians, and other Protestants) is a full member of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
and has a diocese in Jaffna. The Anglican Church has a strong effect on people in some areas. Methodist missionaries established 187 school of which only 2 remains (Wesley College and Methodist College) because all the other schools were taken over by the government. Methodism has over 40,000 followers in Sri Lanka with 45 circuits, 200 churches and 120 pastors. Moratuwa Area and Kutunayake Negombo Areas are the regions where many Methodists live. In 2005 and 2006 the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka had a very difficult time during a period of anti-Christian violence.
St. Andrew's Church in Colombo is a congregation of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. For administrative purposes it is part of the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Europe
Presbytery of Europe
The Presbytery of Europe covers the Church of Scotland's congregations in continental Europe.As a Presbyterian church, the Church of Scotland has no bishops. Instead courts of ministers, elders and deacons have collective responsibility for the governance of the church...
.
As per 2010 year book of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
there are around 4,706 active member's in Sri Lanka.
See also
- Religion in Sri LankaReligion in Sri LankaSri Lanka's population practices a variety of religions. 70% of Sri Lankans are Theravada Buddhists, 15% are Hindus, 7.5% are Muslims and 7.5% Christians...
- Roman Catholicism in Sri LankaRoman Catholicism in Sri LankaThe Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.The country comes under the province of Colombo and is divided into 11 dioceses including one archdiocese.There are approximately 1.4 million Catholics...
- Protestantism in Sri LankaProtestantism in Sri LankaAnglican and other Protestant missionaries arrived at Sri Lanka during the early 19th century, when the British took control of Sri Lanka from the Dutch. About 160,518 persons are Protestants....
- Lanka Lutheran ChurchLanka Lutheran ChurchThe Lanka Lutheran Church is a Lutheran body that exists in Sri Lanka. It is a denomination of around 5000 members, in fellowship with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod since 2001. As a full member of the Lutheran World Federation, it is also in full communion with all other Lutheran World...
- House of Prayer Church
- Status of religious freedom in Sri LankaStatus of religious freedom in Sri LankaFreedom of religion in Sri Lanka has been historically upheld through religious tolerance and multiculturalism. The practice of Hinduism was allowed under Sinhala kings since the Anuradhapura era...
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sri LankaThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sri LankaAs of year-end 2007, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 1,228 members in 1 district and 4 branches in Sri Lanka.-History:Two Mormon missionaries, Chauncey W. West and Benjamin F. Dewey, arrived in Ceylon in May 1853...