Rev. Canon Ivan & Ouida Corea of St.Luke's Church Borella

This short film is a tribute to The Reverend Canon Ivan and Ouida Corea of St.Luke's Church, Borella, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. They championed the rights of the poor - particularly the Rodiya Community.

Born in Chilaw, Ceylon, he was the son of Dr. James Alfred Ernest Corea and Letitia Grace Alice Seneviratne. His uncles were the famed freedom fighters of Sri Lanka, Charles Edgar Corea and Victor Corea who founded the Chilaw Association and the Ceylon National Congress. Ivan Corea was a direct descendant of King Dominicus Corea, also known as Edirille Rala. He was crowned King of Kotte and Sitawaka by Vimala Dharma Suriya, King of Kandy, in 1596. The great Mahatma Gandhi met Ivan Corea's father when he was hosted by the Corea Family in Chilaw, on his first and only visit to Ceylon in 1927.

The young Corea was educated at Royal College Colombo. He joined the clergy of the Anglican Church of Ceylon in 1926, an early posting was at St.Phillip's Church in Kurana, Katunayake. Having spent several years in the priesthood, Reverend Corea was appointed Chaplain to the Bishop of Colombo. He was also made a Canon of the Cathedral Church of Christ in his sacerdotal silver jubilee. In the 1960s Canon Corea was appointed Rural Dean of Colombo, of the Church of Ceylon.

He was Vicar of St. Luke's Church Borella for over 25 years.(1929--1954) Canon Ivan Corea and his wife Ouida Corea, played a key role in re-building St. Luke's Church - the edifice was designed by Canon Corea including the designs on each pillar,the octagonal tower of the Sanctuary,the doors and windows including all decorative motifs within the Church in Borella.The tablet for the extension was laid on October 17, 1938 by the Commisary of the Bishop of Colombo, Ven. F.L.Beven.

Archdeacon Beven wrote about the architecture of St. Luke's Church, Borella: 'It is an example how an unattractive old Church, which needs re-building, can be re-built in stages, with functional structure for all liturgical needs, in Sinhalese style, and provide attractive exterior and interior in a Church.'

The Church celebrated its Diamond Jubilee during the time of Reverend Ivan Corea.[5] The Bishop of Colombo, Bishop Horsley, consecrated the Church on the day of its diamond jubilee on June 30, 1941.

This was a time of great revival and several missionary activities took place at St. Luke's Church, Borella. The church attracted a huge congregation, one of the largest in Colombo, hence the need for the extension.Sri Lankan Church historian, Kumudu Amarasingham, writing in Lanka Library notes:The church launched several missionary activities and social service projects in the Wanathamulla area and with the Rodiya community in Narahenpita. Women and girls were taught needlework at the sewing classes. There was a night school at which the boys were taught English.A few years later girls were given nursing classes by the St. John's Ambulance Brigade which helped them to find employment as nurses and aides in the hospitals. The Bible teachers were very active and Dr. Abraham Perera and his wife built a residence for them. There were Missions of Revival and Healing.The Healing Mission of Bishop Dr. Pakenam Walsh made headline news in September 1942. There was an annual week of witness prior to St. Luke's Festival on October 18. A special service for those in the medical profession was held at St. Luke's which was very well attended by those in the healthcare service. There was also a daily morning service at 5.30 a.m. which was attended by medical personnel before reporting for duty. While at St. Luke's Church, Canon Corea and his wife ministered to the poorest of the poor, the Rodiya Community, over a period of 18 years. He even housed members of the Rodi Community on Church property in Castle Street, Colombo.

Reverend Corea was immortalised in a song in the 1970s when the Sri Lankan superstar Clarence Wijewardena composed 'Piyaneni' (Father) in memory of this much loved priest, who worked tirelessly for the poor.He was the father of Vernon Corea, one of Sri Lanka's great broadcasters, a pioneer with Radio Ceylon/SLBC and Ethnic Minoities Adviser to the BBC. His younger son was Ernest Corea, who was Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States, Cuba and Mexico. Ernest Corea was a highly influential editor of the Ceylon Daily News and the Ceylon Observer in Colombo.

-Wikipedia-
-Canon Ivan Corea Tribute Website -

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Nonprofits & Activism

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• St.Luke's Church Borella
• St.Luke's Borella
• St.Luke's Vicarage Borella
• Reverend Canon Ivan Corea
• Ivan Corea
• Ouida Corea
• The Corea Family of Chilaw
• Chilaw
• Corea Court Madampe
• Dr. James Alfred Ernest Corea
• Vernon Corea
• Ernest Corea
• Archbishop of Canterbury
• Rural Dean of Colombo
• Church of Ceylon
• Mahatma Gandhi Chilaw
• Rodiya Community
• Edirimanne Corea Family Union