St Mark's church is positioned in the capital City of Badulla, Uva province. Most of the tourists visit St.mark’s Methodist church to worship as well as to entertain. Christians annually visit the church to pray their Lord, Jesus Christ. But it is being visited by local and other tourists without considering their region. It was built by the British government and unveiled by Rev. James Chapmen in 25th of April 1857. Rev. James Chapman was the Bishop of Colombo. In addition to the Colonial period, Britains developed the Badulla consummating with horse ridings, golf grounds, and tennis courts. Britains appreciated up country cities as they could experience a loving climate and environment in their holidays. St Mark’s church was built in memory of Major Thomas William Rodgers who was an Assistant government Agent of Uva province. Major Rodgers, so called as ‘bull dog‘ by Sinhalese was died from a lightning strike when he was at his rest house in haputale in 1845.
At the time the whole area was covered with a storm, Sir Rodgers stepped into the Varandha and had a chat with his associate Mrs. Buller ‘ What a thundering typhoons, It’s all over now..??’ . And it was his last proclaim, suddenly a lightening was appeared and he had to face a tragic death of a strike. Referring to the folk tales, people says that , even his grave was attacked 7 times with lightning strikes. It is evident that there is a crack in his sepulcher in nuwara eliya cemetery.
Looming over the legend conveys that sir Rodgers had complete annihilation of 60 Tuskers and filled his rest house with ivory. It made him proud and happy get entertained himself. This massacre holds the reins to decrease the population of the tuskers in Sri Lanka. He was a skilled elephant hunter and a killer. It is believed that the monks and people cursed him due to his hazardous habit of killing animals. By the way, he was a great engineer in constructing roads under the British government. In spite of his great contribution to the Sri Lankan road sector through building most of the road ways in Uva province, Sri Lanka. Not only that but also he had constructed several rest houses too. St.Mark’s Church is identified as an oldest building in badulla city made of Stones and wooden works, thus it has been well maintained by the authorities.