Raithby Church
98
Address
Raithby Road
Date Built
Suggested Grading
IIIA
Property Number
98
Present NHRA protection
S34
Older than 60 years - at time of survey
yes
Description
The Methodist / Wesleyan church is located to the east as you enter the hamlet, and is rectangular and under steeply pitched roof with end gables and bell-tower, c1861. Its tall windows, spaced between buttresses, have Gothic arches, and there are Boyle ventilators along its ridgeline. A plaster cross caps each gable end.
Details
Valley
Area
Landscape Unit
Townscape
Raithby
Landscape Unit Grade
Grade II
Architect / Builder
Current Use
Church / Community
Original Use
Church
General Evaluation
Interior Description
History
Originally a missionary community for emancipated slaves established by Barnabas Shaw following <br />
the abolition of slavery at the Cape in 1834. The original lots were rented out to 800 freed slaves. The <br />
church was built in 1861.
Grouping with other sites
Evidence of Demolition
The façade was reconstructed after its collapse
Contextual Design
The church precinct is located on a slight rise above the commonage, as you enter the village green
area. It has a particularly striking visual relationship with the Helderberg Range beyond, as its gables
echo the tall peaks of this range.
Invasive Elements
Heritage Vulnerability
back to top
Map
To use the map, please open & follow the instructions below:
- Click here to view the map.
- Check Heritage Resources.
- Check Townscape Units.
- Check Landscape Units.
- Click & drag to move map around and find property.
- Use + and – in top left hand corner to zoom in or out.
Latitude/Longitude
-34.021988 / 18.806725
back to top
Additional Information
Additional Documents
Survey
2016
Circa
Admin Area
Allotment
Zoning
back to top
Date of survey
2016
Linked to erf/erven
Linked Address
Environment
Valley PDF
No document
AREA PDF
No document
Landscape Unit PDF
No document
Townscape PDF
2016 Survey Document - Site PDF
OTHER DOCUMENTS
back to top
NHRA Significance
Age
Medium
Archaeology
Low
Architectural
Medium
Associational
High
Intangible
* SCALE USED: High / Medium / Low / None
Rarity
Medium
Representivity
Medium
Scientific
None
Symbolic
High
Statement of Significance
The church is the spiritual heart of the village, and together with the commonage, the streets and
the school, creates the "civic structure" for the settlement. The site has high architectural, historical,
social and contextual significance. It is a rare example. It has a strong association with the history of
slavery in the winelands.
Landscape Significance
While there are some mature trees surrounding the chuch, they do not have any strong landscaping
structure
back to top
Additional Photos
back to top