Garret to the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society (CEZMS) to open a school to benefit the Kandyan girls.

[3] Upon arrival she went to the Christian Mission School, Kotte to learn Sinhalese which might have made it easier for her to converse with the local population.

Though aristocratic parents were not happy, the young Principal stood her ground, and the change was slowly but surely accepted.

By the time Hillwood celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1915, its students were award-winning tennis and netball players, and regular recipients of the Junior and Senior Cambridge certificates.

As the number of Christians grew it became hard to accompany the students to services at the nearby St. Paul's Church, Kandy, therefore there was a need of having a place of worship for the school.