Dutch Reformed Mother Church
1357
Address
Drostdy Street
Date Built
1717-1723; 1814; 1863
Suggested Grading
I
Description
"Cruciform church in the Gothic Revival style with buttresses, pinnacles, pointed-arch windows, pointed arch doors, several decorations in the form of trefoils, and a fine tower with clocks on three faces. See also History.Wall around the churchyard, dating in parts from early 18th C. Gabled burial vaults, including those of two ministers: Meent Borcherds and TS Herold (a rare Egyptian Revival vault of structure dated 1857)."
Details
Style
Gothic Revival
Architectural Period
Victorian
Type Of Building
Religious
Architect / Builder
Current Use
Church
Original Use
General Evaluation
Outstanding
History
"The first church was destroyed by fire in 1710. A simple, thatched cruciform church (similar to the one in Tulbagh) was built on the present site in 1717-1723. It soon proved too small, and in 1814 all 4 wings were extended and the front gable remodelled; the builder was DG Steyn of Somerset West. In 1863 it was again enlarged (and given its Gothic appearance) by Carl Otto Hager. He heightened the side wings and added pinnacles and corner buttresses to the gables; lengthened, heightened and added the side aisles to the front wing, added the tower and also probably designed the neo-Gothic pulpit. (Fransen & Cook)"
Alterations
See history.
Social History
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PHOTO DATE: November 2009
Latitude/Longitude
-4020435.70943000000 / 2099957.73400000000
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Additional Information
Additional Documents
Survey
2012
Circa
Admin Area
Stellenbosch
Allotment
Stellenbosch
Zoning
Residential Zone I
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Date of survey
November 2009
Linked to erf/erven
Linked Address
Environment
Focus of the Church St axis.
2012 Survey Document
2012 survey document not available
OTHER DOCUMENTS
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NHRA Significance
Historical
Very Significant
Rarity
Very Significant
Aestetical
Very Significant
Technological
Unassessed
Cultural
Very Significant
Social History
Very Significant
Slave History
Some significance
* SCALE USED: Very Significant / Significant / Some Significance / No Significance / Not Assessed
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NHRA Protection
Sect 27.2 Is the building/site a Provinical Heritage Site?
unassessed
Sect 27.3 Is the building/site a Previous National Monument?
Sect 28 Will any dev affect the prot or views of or from a Gr 1 or Gr 2 site?
Sect 34 Is the building/structure older than 60 years?
no
Sect 35 Is the site a declared archeological/palaeontological site?
Sect 36 Does the site contain any graves or is it a burial ground?
Sect 37 Does the site contain any public monuments or memorials?
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Additional Photos
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