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Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk
Heidelberg, Western Cape
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| The church was consecrated in 1873, destroyed by fire and demolished in 1912. 19 Julie 1873 | Die tweede NG kerkgebou op Heidelberg, Kaap, is op hierdie dag feestelik ingewy. Die Gotiese kerk, ontwerp deur die Duitsgebore argitek Carl Otto Hager, het die gemeente 40 jaar gedien voordat dit in 1913 gesloop is om plek vir die huidige kerkgebou te maak. Die gemeente het aanvanklik ’n eenvoudige gebou gebruik wat hoofsaaklik as ’n skoolhuis bedoel was. Dit was tydens feesgeleenthede oorvol en die lae solder het die gebou in die somer byna ondraaglik warm gemaak. Besoekers was verbaas dat ’n gemeente met soveel lidmate nog ’n kerkgebou gehad het wat skaars bo die omliggende huise uitgestaan het. Planne vir ’n groter kerk het herhaaldelik misluk. Heidelberg is in ’n voorspoedige tyd gestig, maar die landwye droogte en die verwoestende perdesiekte van 1859 het die gemeenskap swaar getref. Tussen 1862 en 1864 is ’n kerk met 800 sitplekke teen sowat £4,000 beplan, maar die droogte van 1865 het die projek verydel. Toe boumateriaal in 1871 goedkoper word, het ds. Daneel bereken dat die kerk teen ’n laer bedrag gebou kon word. Hager, wat reeds aansien as kerkargitek geniet het, is genader. Die gemeente het op 22 Maart 1871 ten gunste van ’n gebou met minstens 800 sitplekke gestem. Die boukommissie het geelhoutbalke uit Knysna bestel, terwyl die bakstene van rooi potklei op die kerkplein gevorm en gebrand is. Die bouwerk het vinnig gevorder. Hoofmesselaar Michiel Weis het die messel- en pleisterwerk behartig, terwyl Hager se seun J.C.M. Hager die daktimmerasie en galery voltooi het. A.W. Erxleben van Kaapstad het die sierlike mahoniehoutkansel gemaak. Die vrouelidmate het dit teen ongeveer £260 aan die gemeente geskenk. Die nuwe kerk het slegs £3,487 4s. 4d. gekos en by die inwyding was die skuld net £571 6s. Ds. P.J.G. de Vos van Riversdal het die inwydingsrede gelewer. Tussen 1 300 en 1 400 mense het die feesnaweek bygewoon. ’n Henry Willis-orrel uit Engeland is in Junie 1877 in gebruik geneem. Die ringmuur om die kerkplein is in 1881 voltooi en ’n Duitse klok is in 1880 bestel. Die laaste diens is op 1 Desember 1912 gehou. Ds. A.J. van Wyk het uit Deuteronomium 8 gepreek en die gemeente aan God se leiding gedurende die voorafgaande 40 jaar herinner. Translation 19 July 1873 | The second Dutch Reformed church building in Heidelberg, Cape, was ceremoniously consecrated on this day. The Gothic-style church, designed by the German-born architect Carl Otto Hager, served the congregation for 40 years before being demolished in 1913 to make way for the current church building. Initially, the congregation used a simple building intended primarily as a schoolhouse. It was overcrowded during festive occasions, and the low loft made the building almost unbearably hot in summer. Visitors were surprised that a congregation with so many members still had a church building that barely rose above the surrounding houses. Plans for a larger church repeatedly fell through. Heidelberg had been established during a prosperous time, but a nationwide drought and the devastating horse sickness epidemic of 1859 hit the community hard. Between 1862 and 1864, plans were drawn up for an 800-seat church costing approximately £4,000, but the drought of 1865 thwarted the project. When building materials became cheaper in 1871, Rev. Daneel calculated that the church could be built for a lower sum. Hager, who already enjoyed a reputation as a church architect, was approached. On 22 March 1871, the congregation voted in favor of a building with at least 800 seats. The building committee ordered yellowwood beams from Knysna, while red clay bricks were molded and fired on the church square. Hager’s design featured a church measuring 100 by 48 feet, with exposed roof timberwork and an iron roof. The foundation was marked out on 19 February 1872, and the Swellendam magistrate, W.B. Chalmers, laid the cornerstone on 13 March before a crowd of approximately 700 people. The congregation walked from the old church to the construction site, singing as they went. Construction progressed rapidly. Master mason Michiel Weis handled the masonry and plastering, while Hager’s son, J.C.M. Hager, completed the roof timberwork and the gallery. A.W. Erxleben of Cape Town crafted the ornate mahogany pulpit; the female members of the congregation donated it to the church at a cost of approximately £260. The new church cost only £3,487 4s. 4d., and by the time of its inauguration, the outstanding debt was a mere £571 6s. Rev. P.J.G. de Vos of Riversdale delivered the inaugural sermon. Between 1,300 and 1,400 people attended the celebratory weekend. A Henry Willis organ from England was brought into use in June 1877. The perimeter wall surrounding the church square was completed in 1881, and a German bell was ordered in 1880. The final service was held on 1 December 1912. Rev. A.J. van Wyk preached from Deuteronomy 8, reminding the congregation of God’s guidance over the preceding 40 years. (Morné van Rooyen on Artefacts.co.za FB) References:
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