Kruys Church, Protestant church in Jaffna Fort, Sri Lanka
Kruys Church is a Protestant place of worship built inside Jaffna Fort using imported Dutch bricks for its pillars, arches, and doorways. The walls were constructed from rubble and coral stone, with the building laid out in a cross pattern where all four arms extend equally from a central point.
The building was constructed in 1706 during Dutch colonial control and functioned as a place of worship until 1872 when the British garrison built a replacement. Its construction took place during a period when the Dutch were shaping the religious and architectural landscape of the region.
The church design follows a Greek cross pattern with equal-length arms and a central area, reflecting Protestant architectural principles of the period.
The site is positioned near the entrance to Jaffna Fort and is easily reached on foot. Visitors should come prepared to see mainly remaining wall structures, as the building stands in ruins today.
Historic tombstones from this structure, some dated back to 1660, were moved to Batticaloa for safekeeping. These stones serve as records of centuries of religious life that took place at this location.
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