St. Sebastian's Church, Wellaweediya
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| St. Sebastian’s Church, Negombo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Location | |
| Location | Negombo, Sri Lanka |
 Interactive map of St. Sebastian’s Church, Negombo | |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Fr. G. Gannon |
| Type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 2 February 1936 |
| Completed | 1946 |
The St. Sebastian's Church, Negombo, also known as St. Sebastian's Church, Wellaweediya, is a Roman Catholic church in Negombo, in Sri Lanka.[1] It is architecturally based on the Reims Cathedral in France and is built in Gothic Revival style.[2] Saint Sebastian is the patron saint of the city of Negombo.
The church is located in Sea Street in Negombo, Sri Lanka.[3]
History
The church was designed by Father G. Gannon, parish priest of Sea Street. Although the foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop of Colombo, Pierre-Guillaume Marque, on 2 February 1936, construction was not completed until ten years later. It replaced a smaller church to accommodate the increasing number of parishioners in the majority catholic city.[3] It is said to be modeled in Gothic Revival style on the lines of the Reims Cathedral in France. A shadow of this church is seen in the Negombo Lagoon.[2]
This church is one of the many churches in Sri Lanka dedicated to St Sebastian, who is considered a martyr in the Catholic Church history. His veneration is particularly celebrated seeking relief from epidemics. A festival called the "Feast of St Sebastian" is held every year here during the month of January.[4] A tali drama narrating the life of Saint Sebastian used to be enacted here before 1950. Now, "Raja Tunkattuwa", a Sinhalese language drama about the Three Kings is held here during Christmas.[2]