The vice principal, Lewis John Gaster (1879-1939), who joined the school in 1910,[7] a qualified architect and draughtsman, prepared the plans for the chapel.

[8] The foundation stone was laid by Foss Westcott, the Metropolitan of India, Burma and Ceylon on 19 August 1922, as part of the school's fiftieth-anniversary celebrations.

The construction of the chapel, which commenced in early 1923 and took over twelve years to complete, was overseen by staff members, K. L. B. Tennekoon[9] and H. W.

David Paynter, OBE (1900-1975),[11] a staff member of the college painted the first mural on the southern wall of the side chapel in 1928.

[6] In 1954 the original corrugated zinc roof sheets were replaced with calicut tiles, during the course of the re-roofing the murals above the pulpit and lectern were badly damaged.

At the time when most Europeans were content to build churches in their own Gothic style, Gaster deliberately sought inspiration from the local Sinhalese architecture.

The creation of the stone pillars was supervised by K. L. Siripala, a famous stonemason of the time, to be shaped and carved.

The whole of the south wall of this chapel is covered with an early painting by David Paynter depicting the Mother of James and John making a request to Jesus on behalf of her two sons.

The screen and the grape and the chalice design on the altar were both made by local craftsmen from the original drawings by Gaster.

[18] Construction of the bell tower commenced in 1965, with the donation of ten slabs by Barney Raymond, an Old Boy.

Weekly devotions of students at Trinity College during school term, and services on Sunday mornings are held at the chapel.

Nine Lessons and Carols[20][21] in Advent, and The Cross & Triumph of Christ[22] in Lent by the Trinity College choir and other events[10][23][24] are held during the year.