Few creations endure as powerfully as those built with a vision that extends beyond a single lifetime. At Trinity, many buildings have stood for more than a century, quietly bearing witness to generations of students who have passed through their halls. Among them, the College Chapel occupies a special place, not merely as a landmark of architectural beauty, but as a symbol of the ideals upon which the College was founded.
For over one hundred years, the Chapel has remained at the heart of Trinity. Its soaring pillars, intricate carvings, and distinctive character have become familiar to generations of Trinitians. Yet behind the stone, timber, and craftsmanship lies a story of vision, dedication, and painstaking work, a story preserved today through a remarkable collection of original architectural drawings.
At the centre of that story stands Rev. Lewis John Gaster.
Rev. Gaster arrived at Trinity in January 1911 during the principalship of Rev. A. G. Fraser. During his years at the College, he became widely known as the “Master of Method”, a title that reflected the esteem in which he was held as an educator. He later served as Head Master and eventually as Vice-Principal. Beyond his contributions to education, he played an important role in fostering unity among the various branches of the Church in Ceylon, helping to establish a spirit of cooperation that continued to grow under his influence.
Yet it is perhaps through the College Chapel that Rev. Gaster’s vision found its most enduring expression.
The Chapel was never conceived merely as a building. Every detail reflected careful thought and purpose. The carvings in wood and stone, many of which continue to draw admiration today, were executed under Rev. Gaster’s close personal supervision. His commitment extended beyond broad architectural concepts to the finest details of craftsmanship, ensuring that the finished structure would embody both beauty and meaning.
The earliest surviving evidence of this vision can be found in a drafted plan dated 10 October 1922, prepared in Colombo under Rev. Gaster’s supervision. The drawing is believed to have been executed by Henry Schaetti, the distinguished Swiss architect whose work would later leave a lasting influence on Sri Lankan architecture.
However, the transformation of vision into reality required another gifted individual whose contribution deserves equal recognition.
That individual was Mr Clement Leo Unamboowe.
Mr Unamboowe entered Trinity College on 3 March 1911 from C. M. S. Gampola at the age of ten. Following his schooling, he joined Walker Sons and Co. Ltd., where his talent as a draughtsman began to flourish. Rev. Gaster himself described him as a young man who was “developing into an excellent draughtsman”, noting not only his technical ability but also the originality and artistic merit evident in his work.
At a remarkably young age, Mr Unamboowe undertook the demanding task of preparing the detailed architectural blueprints of the Chapel. He was also responsible for drafting the plans of the Gaster Block, which today houses Grade 11 classrooms.
In an era long before digital design tools, architectural drawings demanded exceptional patience, accuracy, and skill. Every measurement, line, and detail had to be drafted by hand. Through countless hours of meticulous work, Mr Unamboowe translated Rev. Gaster’s ideas into technical drawings that builders could follow, creating the bridge between imagination and construction.
Nearly a century after those drawings were prepared, an extraordinary chapter was added to their story.
On 19 August 2022, as Trinity College marked the centenary of the laying of the Chapel’s foundation stone, the College Archives received a gift of immense historical significance. The original drawings prepared by Mr C. L. Unamboowe and signed by Rev. L. J. Gaster in October 1924 were generously donated to the Archives, ensuring their preservation for future generations.
The collection included:
- The original floor plan of the Chapel
- Section drawings of the Chapel pillars
- A full-size pillar elevation
- A cross-section of the Chapel
- Architectural drawings of the Gaster Block, countersigned by Rev. McLeod Campbell
These invaluable documents were donated by Mr Unamboowe’s grandsons, Mr Prince Unamboowe and Mr Neil Unamboowe, whose generosity has returned an important piece of Trinity’s architectural heritage to the College.
Today, visitors entering the Chapel see a completed masterpiece. They see the stone pillars, the timber work, the carvings, and the familiar silhouette that has become inseparable from Trinity’s identity. What they do not immediately see are the years of thought, planning, and labour that preceded its construction.
The original blueprints allow us to glimpse that earlier story.
They remind us that great buildings do not emerge by chance. They begin as ideas, shaped by vision, refined through skill, and realised through dedication. Rev. Gaster provided the inspiration and direction. Mr Unamboowe transformed that vision into drawings of remarkable precision. Together, they helped create a building that has served the College for more than a century.
As these drawings now rest within the College Archives, they offer more than a record of architectural history. They preserve the story of the individuals whose work continues to shape the experience of every Trinitian who enters the Chapel. More than a century after the first lines were drawn on paper, their legacy remains etched in stone, timber, and memory.
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Article by Navindu Karunarathne (Student Archivist)
Edited by S.A.
Sources: The Centenary Number; A Sinhalese Chapel for Trinity College, Kandy; Trinity College, Kandy Archives; History of the Unamboowe Family; internet research.
