Persons moved by the love of God pioneered the proclamation of the GOOD NEWS in Ratnapura, a century ago. God used many of His servants in the Ministry of building His Kingdom in the city of Gems. His protection & guidance has enabled us to Worship Him in this Church today There is evidence of the existence of an Anglican congregation even before the year 1883, which comprised of Dutch descendan
ts, resident Sinhalease & Tamils and they have been ministered by the colonial Chaplains. The church was housed in the building now occupied by the Police, before 1883. The present church dedicated to the great physician Saint Luke was consecrated on 25th of October 1883 on the octave of St. Luke's feast by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Regiraid Stephen Copleston D D with the Archdeacon the Ven. W E Mathew and the priest incharge was Rev. W Herath. In the beginning of 1893 a night school was started to teach English to locals and to teach Sinhala to English men. On 18th October 1896, the day of 13th jubilee of the consecration, the English Boys School, the only one of its nature in Sabaragamuwa Province, was handed to the Church's charge and taken over again by the Government in the year 1961. W E Boteju had the rear privilege of representing Ratnapura as a member of the then Legislative Council for near seven years, during the period of his incumbency from year 1912 to 1926 at St. Luke's and he was also instrumental in creating the reserve seats in trains for Buddhist Clergy. In the year 1931, Rev. Reginald Vincent Becket de Silva built the St. Luke's College hostel & the Burrows Memorial Chapel of the Holy Wisdom. In year 1933 a building housing a reading room and Kindergarten (now where the four storied building sand) was built for St. Luke's College and was blessed on 23rd October 1933. Also a dining hall for 60 & teachers quarters were built & blessed on 1st April 1933. The Church of Epiphany, built newly at Hidellana, was consecrated on Epiphany day in 1933, by the Bishop of Colombo. A colourful procession of witness, a cultural show, and a fireworks display was held to mark this event. The Chapel at Hidellana is no more the property of the Church. A dormitory was added to the St. Luke's Hostel by Rev.Becket de Silva, which was blessed on the 1st day of April 1935. The hostel stood on a small hill and was known as "St. Luke's Hill". The bungalow on top of this hill was used as the Vicarage by the priests posted to St. Luke's Church. On 18th October 1933, the Church celebrated the 50th anniversary and the dedication service was conducted by the Archdeacon acting as the Bishop's Commissary. Felix A Dias Abeysinghe, who was incharge of this Church from 1945 to 1947 built the present Pre School building to use as a Mission House. In 1970 "St. Luke's Hill" was sold and the present vicarage land was purchased. Mr. C Jayathilaka generously gave his land for a very cheaper rate, inspite of a greater offer from the Bank of Ceylon. E J Gnanapragasm built the new Vicarage by the side of the Church and was blessed on 30th November 1971.
