| Trinity College Kandy | |
|---|---|
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Respice Finem
Latin - (Look to the End) |
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| Location | |
| Kandy |
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| Information | |
| Type | Independent Private |
| Established | 1872 |
| Founder | Rev Ireland Jones |
| Principal | Brigadier Udaya Ariyaratne |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age | 6 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 3500 |
| Colour(s) | Red Gold Blue |
| Former pupils | Old Trinitians |
| Website | trinitycollege.lk |
Trinity College, Kandy founded in 1872 by Anglican missionaries, is an Independent elite private boys’ school providing primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka. It is widely considered to be the premier private boys' school in Sri Lanka.
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The antecedents of Trinity College go back to 1817, just two years after Britain had gained control of the central hills of Sri Lanka and with them the entire island in 1815. The first missionaries from Britain, Mr. and Mrs. Browning, set up an elementary school of humble proportions in Kandy which flourished in its day but was later closed down for unknown reasons.
Four decades later, Rev. Ireland Jones established the Kandy Collegiate School in 1857 at the same premises, but again for unknown reasons it was closed down in 1863. Upon those foundations was founded in 1872 a new school which was named Trinity College, after Rev. Ireland Jones' alma mater, Trinity College Dublin.
James Alexander Dunuwille Snr, by then Deputy Queen’s Advocate, donated a large extent of land to Trinity College. This donation was said to have been done during the time of the Kandy Collegiate School founded by Rev. Ireland Jones, the fore runner to Trinity College.
His three sons were educated at Trinity as were three [B.H Dunuwille, T. B. H Dunuwille, A. R. Dunuwille] generations thereafter. Two of his daughters, Sarah Elizabeth Dunuwille who died on 26 June 1854 and Annie Henrietta Florence Dunuwille who died on 26 June 1859, were buried at Trinity; their grave stones were to be seen between the Gaster Block and Alison House until they were removed a few years ago to make way for new buildings.
Trinity College has established herself as an institution of education emphasizing not only the pursuit of scholarship but also good discipline while offering students every facility to grow into a complete personality; a school with activities so diversified that there is abundant life throughout the day - every "passe" is a word that is repeating now in trinity college today. Those passing through the hallowed learning halls of the school have held positions of responsibility in their own land and have shown remarkable competence at the international level.
Trinity is one of the leading schools in Sri Lanka, with a rich history & heritage. It is a multi-ethnic and a multi-religious school which, having a strong Christian foundation, has contributed immensely towards the establishment of peace and harmony amongst a divided nation. The motto of Trinity is "Respice Finem" (Look to the End), so Trinity looks, if not to the end, to the years ahead of serving the youth of Sri Lanka.
| Junior Houses | Middle School Houses | Senior Day Houses | Senior Boarding Houses |
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| School Song | College Hymn |
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| It's good to see the School we knew, The land of youth and dream, To greet again the rule we knew, Before we took the stream; Though long we've missed the sight of her, Our hearts may not forget; We've lost the old delight of her, We keep her honour yet. The stars and sounding vanities, The men that tanned the hide of us, To speak of fame a venture is, We will honour yet the School we knew, |
Where river, lake and mountain meet, Our boyhood's home surrounding, A path behold for youthful feet, The path of life abounding; Still up it climbs by cliff and crag, The mount of truth ascending, Though oft thereon the pilgrim flag, It leads to life unending. Oh life is good, both here and now, That joyous Trump! and can it be, Then bravely brother, breast the path, Now unto Father, Spirit, Son, |
| Sir Henry Newbolt | W. S. Senior |
| 1857 | 16 October – The Kandy Collegiate School is opened by Rev. J Ireland Jones in response to an appeal for a school of higher education in Kandy. It functioned for about 6 years |
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| 1872 | 17 January – The school is reopened by Rev. Richard Collins. Trinity dates its existence from this year. At the inception, there were 40 - 50 boys. Tuition fees were Rs.10 for Upper School and Rs.3 for Lower School |
| 26 August – The First Prize Giving is held | |
| 1873 | College Motto “Respice Finem” and Original Crest devised by the Principal |
| 1875 | 19 March – The Literary Association founded by Mr. Andrew Loos. This is currently the oldest school literary association in Sri Lanka. |
| 1876 | 15 May – First issue of College magazine. It was edited and managed by Mr. L.E. Blaze |
| Annual Report of the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S) states: ”The Kandy Collegiate School is henceforth to be denominated as Trinity College Kandy” | |
| 1888 | Natural History Society (NHS) founded |
| 1893 | Old Boys’ Association (OBA) founded |
| 1898 | Napier House started with new dormitory |
| 1902 | Cadet Corps became the Trinity Company of the Cadet battalion of the Ceylon Light Infantry |
| J. A. Halangoda appointed Football Captain | |
| 1904 | Four prefects appointed for the first time (J.S. Daniel, C.B. Aluvihare, R.S Tennekoon and P.C. Dedigama) |
| 1906 | College colors changed to the present colors Maroon, Gold and Navy (from Dark Green, Old Gold and chocolate Brown) |
| 1908 | Colombo Branch of the Old Boys Association offers The Ryde Gold Medal for the Best All-round Trinitian. First Winner – John Andrew |
| 1910 | Start of House system with founding of Alison House |
| Formation of the Trinity College Union for Social Service | |
| Inter-House contests begin (Cricket, Rugby and Inter-Association Debate) | |
| Rev. A. G. Fraser acquires 8 acres (32,000 m2) of land free from the Army that are now the Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium | |
| 1912 | 2 March - The first Inter-Collegiate debate against St. Thomas College held in Colombo |
| First Annual magazine. The cover design drawn by Mr. Gaster becomes the new (and present) College Crest | |
| The Union of Social Service carried out an experiment in Paddy cultivation according to a new productive method intended for promotion amongst villages | |
| 1913 | Boxing introduced as a school sport |
| Sinhala Oratorical Society formed | |
| 1914 | Union of Social Service investigated into the living conditions of the poorer classes of society. The information was later used by the Government. The Attorney General acknowledged in the Legislative Council when introducing the Housing Bill, his debt to the Trinity Boys for the information |
| 4 Trinitians left to the Great War – Richard Aluvihare, A. Halangoda, A. Rudra and F. Drieberg Altogether during the next 4 years 65 Trinitians went to the war front – 13 gave their lives, 18 wounded or gassed, 2 taken prisoner, 4 decorated, 3 received commissions. Recognizing the part played by Trinity, the King of England presented the College with a gift of a captured German Machine Gun. It can still be seen beside the Basketball Court |
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| 1915 | 15 January – New cricket pitch at Asgiriya formally opened. The Pavilion (which is now called “The Old Pavilion”) completed at the same time. |
| Riots across Sri Lanka. 36 Trinity Boys responded to Rev. Fraser’s call for volunteers to protect life and property. In recognition of Trinity’s contribution the Government remitted a Rs.1,000 claim as rent for the new cricket field | |
| “Lions” were awarded for the first time for outstanding performances in Cricket, Rugby, Boxing, Shooting, marching and Military Efficiency | |
| In the Cambridge Senior Local Examination, Trinity received the first 4 distinctions in the world in Book keeping and for the 3rd year in a succession headed the Commercial Examination |
On the 19th of August 1855 a church was opened in Kandy on exactly the same site that the Trinity College main hall stands now. Built by Rev. Oakley, it was a prominent landmark in Kandy and known as Oakley's church. It was pulled down in 1939 to make way for the main hall, but one of its original doors, which had been donated by Mr. A. S. Samarasinghe in 1885, now marks the entrance to the reading room from the library. In the early years it is recorded that Trinity was better known as Oakley's School among the people of Kandy. The present chapel of Trinity College is the result of the untiring efforts and dedication of many over the past century. Rev. Fraser, whose immense service to the school is recorded elsewhere on this site, conceived the idea of a new chapel for Trinity as far back as 1915
The Metropolitan of India and Ceylon, the Most Reverend Foss Wescott DD, Bishop of Calcutta, laid the foundation stone, on the 19th of August 1922, during the course of the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the school. The original stone was laid in front of the present main hall, but it was later shifted to a more suitable site, located below the Principal's Bungalow and construction finally began in 1923.
The Present Chapel
The grand design of the chapel was that of Rev. Gaster, the then vice-principal, who was a qualified architect and draftsman. His technical skill and ability permitted him to express his ideas and aspirations in accordance with the traditions of the country. The chapel depicts the grandeur and loveliness of the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. It denotes the vision and purpose of religion in collaboration with artistic merit, and marked to a great extent by the standard reached in architecture.
Chapel Murals The masons and carpenters, who were already working in the school, were used in the building process. The great quantities of granite were brought from Aruppola, only two and a half miles away from the college. The timber was brought from Mawanella and Kekirawa and iron from Messers Walker & Sons. On the 3rd of March 1935, the Bishop of Colombo dedicated the chapel. A timeline below highlights the major steps in the construction and renovation of the chapel.
1923:Work commences in accordance with the design and plans of Rev. Gaster
1929:The side chapel is completed. Mr. David Paynter begins work on the first mural on its southern wall using local modals and Sri Lankan setting like the murals followed
1930:The side chapel is dedicated as "the chapel of the light of the world".
1933:The Chancel, the Sanctuary and the Main Altar are completed. Mr. Paynter paints "The Crucifixion" above the main altar and "The Story of the Good Samaritan" and "The Washing of the Feet of the Disciples by Jesus Christ"
1935:The work on the rest of the chapel (vestry and the nave) is completed and the chapel is dedicated to the glory of the god and is used as a place of regular worship.
1954:The original roof of the chapel made of corrugated Zinc sheets is replaced with Calcut tiles, during the course of which the two murals depicting "The Story of the Good Samaritan" and "The Washing of the Feet of the Disciples by Jesus Christ" are badly damaged and have to be redone.
1957:Mr. Paynter completes the present painting of the "Parable of the Good Samaritan" using different colors, models and background in order to provide an indigenous character to the biblical story.
1965:Mr. Paynter redoes "The Washing of the Feet of the Disciples by Jesus Christ" along with "The Story of the Good Samaritan". The pulpit is constructed and dedicated to the memory of Mr. Walter Senior, author of the hymn for Ceylon and the College hymn.
1967:The lectern is installed
1969:The bell tower is completed
The "Grand Design" of Rev. Gaster remains incomplete; yet one hopes that it will finally be completed and thus validate the intentions of its founders.