Groote Kerk, Graaff-Reinet
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The Groote Kerk (
Afrikaans Afrikaans is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and also Argentina where there is a group in Sarmiento, Chubut, Sarmiento that speaks the Pat ...
and Dutch for "Great Church") is a Dutch Reformed church in
Graaff-Reinet Graaff-Reinet (; Xhosa: eRhafu) is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is the oldest town in the province and the fourth oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Simon's Town, Paarl and Swellendam. The to ...
,
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. Graaff-Reinet is a town located in the
Eastern Cape Province The Eastern Cape ( ; ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, and its largest city is Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Due to its climate and nineteenth-century towns, it is a common location for tourists. It is also kno ...
of
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. It is the oldest town in the province and the fourth oldest town in South Africa, after
Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
,
Stellenbosch Stellenbosch (; )A Universal Pronouncing Gazetteer.
Thomas Baldwin ...
, and
Swellendam Swellendam () is the third oldest town in South Africa (after Cape Town and Stellenbosch), a town with 17,537 inhabitants situated in the Western Cape province. The town has over 50 provincial heritage sites, most of them buildings of Cape D ...
.


History

The Groote Kerk is a prominent landmark and a significant piece of South Africa's religious and architectural heritage. The congregation was established in 1792, with the first church building constructed on Church Street. Unfortunately, this initial structure was destroyed by fire in 1799 before it could be completed. A second church was completed in September 1800 on the site of the present Groot Kerk at the northern end of Church Street. This was followed by a third church built in 1822, which served the community until 1886. The current church, completed in 1887, is the fourth iteration and was designed by architect James Bisset. Its design was inspired by Salisbury Cathedral in the United Kingdom, reflecting the Victorian Gothic architectural style. The structure was built using local grey sandstone and features a cruciform layout, a 45.72-meter-high spire, and can accommodate up to 1,500 congregants. The first sermon in the new building was delivered by Professor De Vos on 11 September 1887. Reverend Charles Murray, who became the minister in 1866, played a pivotal role in the church's history. His residence, Reinet House, now serves as a museum and was a notable stopover for missionaries like Dr. Robert Moffat and David Livingstone. Today, the Groot Kerk stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa, attracting visitors with its historical significance and architectural grandeur.


References


External links


Church congregation website.

Tourism website of the city of Graaff-Reinet.
{{coord, -32.24958, 24.53495, format=dms, type:landmark_region:ZA, display=title Churches in the Eastern Cape Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK)