However, there are small towns with tons of history dating back hundreds of years.  And then there are churches with unique architecture and some interesting history on the why, what and how it came about. 

With its rich history and influences from the Dutch, French and English, who all reigned South Africa at some period in the early years, you can just imagine the different church styles that came about.   Each church structure tells a story.  One can feast on some fascinating stories that at times can be humorous or a bit shocking, this includes that has been set alight by deranged persons and destroyed by fire, and steeples collapsing. 

Looking up the history of all the churches and paying a visit to it is a travel destination in itself.    

DR Colesberg (NC) – 1863

Colesberg is one of those towns that you normally zip by and just stop at one of the many filings station next to the N2 to buy something cold for the road, use the bathroom and fill up with fuel.  Next time take ten minutes and  drive through the town.    You will notice that many of the town’s buildings are preserved very well.  One example is the DR Church which dates back to 1863.

Like many other church building the competition to design the church was won by George William Smith but it was not built to his design.

When you look up you will also notice that there is a red rooster on the roof of the church indicating the wind directions. 

Coordinates:
30°43’23.04″ S 25°05’43.88″ E Alt: 1383m

DR Church Uniondale (WC) – 1866

You will notice that the tower has the inscription “herbouw in 1908”. This is because the original sandstone tower was unable to withstand the strain of the swinging action of the heavy church bells when they were rung.  These huge bells are now mounted on a wooden beam and the time every half hour.

During the 1974/1975 the weights keeping the heavy bells in place in place, came loose and fell right through the wooden floor at the bottom.  After this mishap measures were taken to protect the floor from another mishap and metal plates were installed below the bells on top of the wooden floor. 

If you look closely you will notice the there is only three clock faces.  But why?  Well, the one side faces the mountains and who on earth needs to the know the time when they are up there? 

Then there is also a rumour that the clock goes faster during the cold winter months and tends to be a bit sluggish during the hot summer months.  Please share your comment if this rumour is not a rumour, but a fact! 

DR Church Winburg (FS)

)

Next time when you are travelling on the N2 take the turn-off to Winburg.  It is not much of a town, but it has a beautiful sandstone church in the centre of town and is quiet easy to find.  Just follow the spire – there is no high rise buildings in Winburg …..

“The European community of Winburg is famous for the differences in political heritage. The town was divided into two camps, due to their support to either the South African Party of General Jan Smuts, or the National Party of Dr Daniel François Malan. This led to the division of the Dutch Reformed Church into two separate congregations, Klip Kerk (Stone Church, because it was built from sandstone) and which was the original church for the Dutch Reformed Church and Rietfontein Kerk. Bitter feuds were fought between supporters of the two parties.” (Extract from Wikipedia)

Coordinates:
34°01’03.63″ S 20°26’47.52″ E  

DR McGregor (WC)  – 1904

This is another beautiful  Hesse design tucked away in the Breede River region dating back to 1904.

Coordinates:
33°56’56.82″ S 19°49’38.99″ E

DR Church Swellendam (WC) – 1910

Cape Dutch gables, Gothic windows, Renaissance entrances, and a Baroque spire combined into one building.  Also the work of Folkert Wilko Hesse and his son Francois.     This church’s spire was once removed with a helicopter to do some repair work on it!  Must have been great a commotion when this happened in the town of Swellendam. 

Mary Myrtle Church in Bonnievale (WC) – 1921

The only church in the world believed to be built on the request of a child! This was a special request to her father before her death.

The floor is made of marble from Italy the stained glass windows comes from England, the main door from Zanzibar (made originally for a jail and over 300 years old), the side doors out of wood from Knysna.

DR “Moedergemeente”, George (WC) – 1842

There is also a story concerning my home town’s church.

Due to lack of funds it took more than 12 years to construct the church building at a cost of between R24 000.  On Wednesday, 13 September 1905, at five o’clock in the morning disaster struck. 

‘n Geweldige ramp die gemeente getref toe die kerktoring op Woensdag 13 September 1905, om vyfuur die oggend ineengestort het. Reën wat in die loop van jare by die oopstaande vensters van die toring ingedryf is, het die houtwerk ongemerk laat verrot en die mure sodanig verswak dat dit nie bestand was teen die swaar neerslag wat op 11 September begin en op 13 September reeds sowat 10 duim gemeet het nie. 

The tower was reconstructed under the supervision of architect Hesse who was by now a well-known figure in the church building arena.

Coordinates:
33°57’22.25″ S 22°27’47.33″ E

And I am off to find some more interesting churches with interesting stories. You are welcome to let us know in the comments sections when you spot a church with an interesting story.

You can find some more interesting stories under the post about a Sophy Gray church in the blog post called St George, Church, Knysna http://travelbucket.co.za/st-george-knysna/?hilite=%27belvidere%27

— We will never change the world by going to church – We will only change the world by being the church —

The post ABOUT SMALL TOWNS AND CHURCHES appeared first on TRAVELBUCKET.

This gave me the time to roam around town and to explore all of the few choices of shops in Winburg.  In the centre of town is the magnificent old stone church with the following interesting history.

The Klip Kerk

The European community of Winburg is famous for the differences in political heritage. The town was divided into two camps, due to their support to either the South African Party of General Jan Smuts, or the National Party of Dr Daniel François Malan. This led to the division of the Dutch Reformed Church into two separate congregations, Klip Kerk (Stone Church), which was the original church for the Dutch Reformed Church, and Rietfontein Church in Voortrekker Road. Bitter feuds were fought between supporters of the two parties.” (Excerpt from Wikipedia).

Rietfontein Church

And, like a  true  South African, I also found a butchery across the Rietfontein Kerk which sells some of the best biltong  I have tasted in a long time and at a reasonable price too.  If we now are going in that direction we make the little detour into town to stock up on some padkos.

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So off I go on a Kulula flight to O R Tambo to courier the necessary tools, several other items as well as some warm clothing that (we thought) would be needed  for this epic journey after the late snow falls that had the country buzzing.   A bit of TLC here and there and we set off on a 1 200 km road trip to take her home.

The first glimpse in the parking bay at OR Tambo

All went well until just before Kroonstad where our first of 42 unplanned mechanical stops started.  With a speed of about 20 kmph and a stuttering Landy we arrived at the Shell Ultra Stop in Kroonstad.  While buying some spares we  came across a very knowledgeable mechanic named Willie who lovingly looked at the Landy with and expert eye and put us on the road again.

One of the 42 technical stops of the journey

At about 16:00 we left Kroonstad to find a resting lace in Bloemfontein for the night  – well, that was the plan.  However things did not turn out that way and we reached Winburg at a snails place after a wheel bearing seized.  This meant that we had to spend some time in Winburg as the required part only arrived on the Friday morning in Winburg.

Waiting for the wheel bearing in Winburg

While waiting we did some sightseeing on foot in Winburg, drank a couple of liters of Coke and   Googled the history of Winburg as well as the history of the old stone church to pass some time waiting for the part to arrive.   Oh yes, and they do sell some very nice biltong in town!

The sand stone church in Winburg

THE HISTORY OF THE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCHES IN WINBURG

“The European community of Winburg is famous for the differences in political heritage. The town was divided into two camps, due to their support to either the South African Party of General Jan Smuts, or the National Party of Dr Daniel François Malan. This led to the division of the Dutch Reformed Church into two separate congregations, Klip Kerk (Stone Church, because it was built from sandstone) and which was the original church for the Dutch Reformed Church and Rietfontein Kerk. Bitter feuds were fought between supporters of the two parties.”  (Extract from Wikipedia)

Leaving Winburg at about 14:00 on the Friday we hit the long but busy N1 South to our home town of George.  Hubby happily settled into a rhythm of doing 80 kmph with the Landy, whilst negotiating all the trucks overtaking us, and stopping ever so often to do some needy repairs throughout the night.

Getting the rythm of the Landy

But about 20 km outside Beaufort West the Landy was unwilling to go any further.  We had to phone a friend on the Saturday afternoon to get a mechanic from Beaufort West to where we were stranded at the side of the road.  Jacques from Swartberg Motors is a very hands on guy and had us on the road again in no time.  ‘n Boer maak ‘n plan – even if it means driving with a a jerry can of fuel serving as a temporary fuel tank and a fire extinguisher on the seat to reach home!

Boer maak ‘n plan!

Fuel consumption is not great on the old lady and in Klaarstroom we ran out of fuel as the jerry can only hold 20 litres.  Things were still not in our favour.  At Klaarstroom the shop and pumps were closed, because it is Saturday afternoon and everyone was having a siesta.

On to Plan B – try to get some of the dirty fuel from the tanks to reach De Rust that is only a mere 20 kilometers away.  While hubby is lying underneath the Landy Koos Roets (the famous film producer who lives in Klaarstroom) pulls up in his diesel Land Rover for a leisurely chat (about Land Rovers) , but cannot help with some petrol as he drives a diesel Landy.

On to Plan C –  settled in for a long wait after we phoned up our daughter who lives in Port Elizabeth to come and fetch us and bring some much needed fuel with.

Then the joy when we see that the shop has opened its doors at 16:00 for business.  The friendly shopkeeper lady was asking where we are heading and so I told her my story.  Now we can at least buy a Coke for the long wait ahead of us.   Next minute her husband (who must have overheard my story) rocks up with a 5 litre can of fuel that will see us to De Rust!  As always the platteland is full of friendly people willing to assist.

Getting to De Rust on the five litres of petrol we bought in Klaarstroom

Yet another fuel stop in De Rust to fill up the jerry can one more time and on the road again!

Cruising through Meiringspoort

Past Oudtshoorn we met up with our daughter who arrived with another jerry can of fuel and some coffee to see us home.   From here on it was an uneventful drive home.

Help arriving in the form of our daughter from Port Elizabeth

An epic journey came to an end after being on the road since Wednesday morning when we left Kempton Park.

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