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Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk
Napier, Western Cape
LOUW and LOUW: Architect
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Click to view large map Coordinates: | The church facades have Cape Dutch Revival elements, and it has a Greek cross-shaped plan. It stands on a rise above the town and dominates the landscape. All four arms have a large Cape Dutch gable with a rose window above two sets of seven arched windows above and below the galleries. The tall tower with its spire acts as the main entrance facing the street corner. The single entrance door is accentuated by an arch supported by Corinthian columns, a feature which is repeated at the other doors and around the top row of arched windows in each gable. All four corners between the arms are filled in, albeit in varying sizes. The seating is arranged in a semi-circle facing the pulpit which is positioned on a corner of the cross opposite the tower entrance. The round seating extends naturally into the two arms below the galleries next to the tower (Figure 6.50). A large organ is positioned on the gallery to the left of the pulpit. It was designed to not obscure the large rose window behind it. The wooden balustrades of the galleries, with their steeply sloping seating, are connected to form an almost complete circle around the pulpit, which has a similar columned feature as the entrance doors. The high domed ceilings subtly repeat the Greek cross theme internally. The curved roof trusses protruding from the ceilings are supported on Corinthian capitals. The patterned leaded glass windows provide ample light. (Geldenhuys 2023:163) References:
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