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Nederduitse Hervormde Kerk
Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
G GUDE: Contractor
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Contact Artefacts | MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | Nederduitse Hervormde Kerk G GUDE: Contractor | | ||||||
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Click to view large map Coordinates: | This church replaced one that was built in 1893 and destroyed by the British during the South African War. (See 1893 Church). After the war from 1903 to 1908, the Boer people fell into a great despair. But their hardships did not prevent them from rebuilding the church. In 1905 it was eventually rebuilt and inaugurated. According to several sources the steeple which the original church once had was never rebuilt, due to the privation and poverty that followed the War. The bell was therefore placed in a bell-cradle next to the church. In 1991 this was altered because of the degradation of its timber cradle over the years. In the photo entitled: "Inwyding: Hervormde Kerk Boere-Oorlog (Dullstroom)" the church is seen with a timber flèche in place in 1905, which it is most likely when this photo was taken, but the steeple was never re-erected. The flèche too has subsequently been lost. Interior of the church WP Diepraam also had carpentry skills and after the War he was responsible for building the wooden pulpit of the church. It was made of pine or as they wrote, 'kasplanke' [deal]. He decorated it with intricate woodcuts. This original pulpit is still in use today. With the help of his wife Tant Kitty, they finished the pulpit with covers made of felt. She regularly restored it without the others' knowledge and it was decorated with cord, fringes and tassels. The hanging pulpit cloth, was once hand-embroidered and was also made by Tant Kitty with the help of Corrie Grobler. The seating in the church was bought by the members of the congregation, the names of the donors painted on them. While it has not been determined these may well also have been made by WP Diepraam. Conclusion With its amazing history, you cannot help but feel intrigued when you walk through the lane of enormous trees towards the church. If they could only speak, what wondrous stories we might have known. This quaint little stone church, has experienced much more than any one can imagine when admiring it for the first time. If not for the will and the strong religious principles of the people involved with it during its lifetime, we might have only heard stories about this treasure. The writer feels honoured to say that her great grandfather was so involved with its existence. The fact that he was an architect is another special piece of information, as her father is one as well, and the writer is studying to be one. With Dullstroom developing into such a tourist attraction, the writer hopes that the history of the church will be known, as it is too rich to be forgotten. Sources The archive of the Dutch Reformed Church in Pretoria, who provided me with a file on the church, that contained documents and photographs of the church during throughout the course of its history. Mrs Johanna Janson whose family also played an important part in the history of Dullstroom, who accompanied me to the church. Gerda Whitehorn from Dullstroom Accomodation, who provided me with information. (Lorinda BEZUIDENHOUT, 2005 References:
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