M I S S I O N S T A T I O N S
B e r e a v i l l e
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Along with Voorstekraal, and associated with the more acknowledged Genedendal, Bereaville is a satellite settlement with a Moravian mission church. The village straddles a valley, and joins at the top to create a public focal point.
G e n a d e n d a l
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The earliest mission town in the Cape, by the Moravians, Genadendal was established with the grand concept of converting the Khoekhoe who were resident in the vicinity.
The centre is still in a relatively intact state, but in the usual modern idiom, most of the original houses have been 'improved', that is modernised in inappropriate styles.
The centre is still in a relatively intact state, but in the usual modern idiom, most of the original houses have been 'improved', that is modernised in inappropriate styles.
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The music of Genadendal
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE4DuEI3_HU |
The art of Genadendal
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuVHXk5uDpU |
G o e d v e r w a c h t
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Goedverwacht has an unusual history in that the original owner of the farm on which it is situated, Burgershoek, left it to six slaves, which naturally caused some confusion regarding property rights. Although established from the mid-19th century, only remnants of the village now exist. Many of the older structures lie in ruins with the contemporary residents seemingly only interested in the newer or modified houses.
H e r m o n
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A sub division of the farm Rondeheuwel, Hermon became an unusual entity in that it was established as a Dutch Reformed mission station, an outpost from the Wellington congregation. Relatively recently it endured a brutal upgrading; much as the residents were agreeable to the improvements, it removed much of the character and patina of the village. For example, the corrugated iron cladding in Roos Street was removed entirely and the crumbling structure was left to its own devices, ie to fall down. An indication of the mindset of one of the earlier changes is the house bottom left – when a new road was pushed through, the building was just chopped in half.
K u r u m a n
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A Mission Station near Kuruman was established by the London Missionary Society in 1816, but was moved to its present site in 1824. Founded by two missionaries, Edwards and Hamilton, the station became associated with Robert Moffat because of his lengthy tenure and notably for being the first place in Africa where the entire Bible was translated, and printed, in a previously unwritten language (Setswana).
M a m r e
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Originally called Groenekloof, a former VOC outpost, Mamre was given its present name in 1854. Moravian missionaries, Kohrhammer and Schmitt, were invited to start this mission station by the Earl of Caledon, then Governor, and it was established in 1807.
S a r o n
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Little remains of Saron's origins as a Rhenish (subsequently Dutch Reformed) mission station. The large church (1853) and parsonage, which was the farm on which the station came into being, still dominates, although with a rather unfriendly 'guardian' who tends to chase photographers away. Only scattered examples of early houses remain.
W i t t e w a t e r
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Wittewater was a quitrent grant in 1831. The original structures no longer exist. On the farm a small mission settlement was established, named after the farm, in 1859.
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Hans Fransen, 1965
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André Pretorius, 1994
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André Pretorius, 1994
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W u p p e r t h a l
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A Rhenish mission station founded in 1830, Wupperthal still retains some of its core structures. The church was completed four years later, and shoe making was established early, due to one of the founders, JG Leipoldt, being a cobbler. Today that industry is foundering, the building in which it is housed collapsing and the workspace in an entirely disorganised state. The vast majority of the residential cottages have been altered with inappropriate materials and in styles not in keeping with the ethos of the village. This will prove detrimental both from a preservation aspect, and aesthetic as when totally defaced, will not attract visitors, the only source of outside income.
