Our History

** A bit from the past of the Holy Mark's Churches in Dadugama. **

Legends reveal that there was only temple pilgrimage in the Dadugama area since ancient times. Franciscan fathers of Sri Lanka have been introduced to Christianity to the region with the purpose of improving the area which was very unpredictable during the Portuguese regime, further the legends say. This church has been built as a result of this.

When the Portuguese era comes to the Landesi era, the Dandugama council which was without priests has been under the Olanda Repramadu council and the church has been used for the use of the Olanda officials. So Christians in the area returned to the churches and others to the surrounding Catholic churches. The Dandugama church is the church of Olanda aka Lansi church. Today also some people are attending this church as the Lansi church.

After the Olandas left Sri Lanka, Dadugama was no longer a church or a group.

The Olanda council re-planted the dandugama when the North governor started in 1795 during the British rule, the freedom to visit their herds and expenditure by the government itself.

Till 1807, the Dandugama Church was run by the main religious organization called Olanda Reparamadu Sabha.

Also in 1848, Olanda religious services were taken under British control. Accordingly, the SPG company started religious work in this country. Mr. Thomas Christian was in missionary service in 1852. The church so far was renovated with abalanation. By 1888, the need to build a strong temple once again appeared. According to this, with the growth of the council, the number of students in Sunday school is also increasing.

1889 was a great feast of the Christian masses in the province. By 1898, the temple of God was able to be rebuilt as a single hall again. The new temple that was constructed which can be seen now R. S. Dedicated by the copelston Radaguru Swami.

Below is the brief of the priests and their service who served in this church after 1899.

Honorable Father Wijesinghe (1902 - 1905)
• Father Wijesinghe, who is an expert in Sinhala language as well as in work tutorial is also an honorable member of the Royal Asian Society of the Ancient Linguist Society.

Honorable Father W P Fernando (1905 - 1924)
• During his service, he has worked to expand the church land by buying shares from various people. Also, the school which was a great service to the Dadugama area was built in 1912 during his service.

Honorable Father Richard Francis Perera (1924 - 1930)
• During his time, the current altar which was proved with religious symbolic carvings was built instead of the altar in the temple of God. Also organizing a methodical choir group in the church started during his service.

Honorable Father SSK Ponnaya (1930 - 1936)
• A permanent fence in the current cemetery was first installed with concrete poles during his season. Also he was sick and died while he was organizing to build an English school for the development of teaching English and his dead body was deposited in the cemetery.

Honorable D. G. A. Father Wijayasekara (1936 - 1944)
• The existing small church and the complete building was justified during his service. Also, the singing groups were disclosed during his time.

The Honorable Raelyn Jay. H. Father Andradi (1948 - 1954)
• Even though Father Andhradi was a father who is beyond age and body, the famous inspirations he possessed was a special characteristics of him.

Honorable D. G. Father Samuel (1954 - 1955)
• Shortly after Father Andradi, he was in charge of the province.

Honorable Father LT Fernando (1955 - 1966)
• Hon. Loriya Fernando Father sacrificed the statue of Christ in front of the temple to remember his parents by the Bishop. Not only that, did the church get electricity during his service?

Honorable Father LML Jayawardena (1966 - 1967)
• He worked in the province for a very short time. Carol launched an Eternity and the money received from the teachers of Sunday school towards the Christmas tree.

Hon. Father Douglas de Mal (1968 - 1970)
• Suisal wooden cross and statue on the altar was donated by his wife to remember Mr. HS Siriwardhana who passed away from Saku during his time. And he also worked to build the Sunday school which was going to die.

Honorable Father DGS Wijayasekara (1970 - 1973)
• The retired person who once served in punishment due to the lack of priests, served in the province for two years again. The youth association was organized outdoor Christmas singing and the punishment became a friend of everyone, contemporary says.

Honorable Father Noel Dias
Honorable Father Sumith De Silva (1973 - 1974)
• After Hon. Wijayasekara, Hon. Noel de Mal as the father in charge of the province and Hon. Sumith de Silva as vice priest worked at this church. Hon. Sumith de Silva performed the work in the province with the approval and guidance of Hon. Noel de Mal Pinoyel de Mal. In one ceremony, as both of these fathers who did valuable service to Udugama province were transferred simultaneously to other provinces and welcomed the newly appointed father as the place of priest in charge of the province.

Honourable father Ardley Mendis
Honorable Father Devapriya De Silva (1974 - 1978)
• During the service of the two, the punishment was seen raising Sunday school and running holiday bible schools. As well as establishing unions companies in the council has also been key to building youth associations and connections with the Lankasabha youth movement.

Honorable Father Bernard Perera (1978 - 1982)
• During her service, the Young Women Christian Association was established a branch in Dandugama. Chain prayer time was also held throughout the day with the participation of members of the province on Thursdays during the Chatharika period. Not only that the youth association and mothers society were more organized this season and the Christmas Carol tour has been formalized.

Hon. W. Jason Roy de Silva Father (1982 - 1985)
• During his time, there was a revival in Kudahakapola Raddolugama and Wataya village areas belonging to Dadugama as well as church province. Also after the construction of the Dadugama Young Women Christian Association and its buildings, many new security social work started during his time.

Honorable Father Ashley Perera (1985 - 1988)
• Mrs. Shanthi Perera, the father and wife of the children's society where there will be great service to the children. Not only that, it is revealed that the father has suffered a lot to uplift the people of Dandugama spiritually.

Honorable Sunny W. Father Silva (1989 - 1993)
• His service time was an important period for the Dandugama Sabha. He was able to rebuild the fallen church economy. Also, the Sunday school which was held in outdoor locations in the evening so far started in the building of the Sri Lanka Sabha School in the morning. Not only that, but he has taken very commendable efforts to rebuild the youth society that has been functioning properly for several years.

Hon. Father Gregory Pereira (1994 - 1997)
• During his time, the church was able to solve the housing problem for a sub-temple who served for the Tamil Sabha. He also tried to create a more creative form of God's service by leading the choir practice and buying a new electrical organ.

Since 1998, this church has come a long way in progress and building under the leadership of various fathers to present. The following are the priests who ruled the Dadugama Sabha after Hon. Father Gregory. They have also served a great service for the upliftment of the church.

Honorable Father Lenin John Marshall (1998 - 2001)

Honorable Father Davison Samadna (2002 - 2003)

Honorable Father Satyawel

Honorable Father Upul Fernando

Honorable Father Indika Perera

Honorable Harold Paul and Father Rajitha De Mal

Honorable Father Palitha

Hon. Father Ridgeway and Father Kannan (currently serving)

Also we have served as siblings father Neville and Patrick in the church. Among these two, Patrick's father served in our church for a long time and he passed away while serving here. So his dead body is deposited in this cemetery itself.

Shu, who kept it forward step by step in this way. Mark's church is preparing to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2024 with great pride.!