The celebrations for our 190th birthday have begun already.
On Sunday 21st July, our 9.30 morning service was one of thanksgiving, praise and communion followed by a bring-and-share lunch and celebration cake. It was a joyful time and we loved hearing Hayley and the children interview some church members as they shared some of their highlights and advice for us as a church. Past Rectors and youth workers sent recorded greetings and messages. The band and organ were in top form. We are a family who have experienced so much of God’s compassion and faithfulness so that we can reach out in love to others.
On Saturday evening, 27th July we are holding our Heritage Dinner fundraiser. As you can imagine, a church this old, needs a fair bit of maintenance and without your help we will not be able to do this. Tickets have now been sold out, and we look forward to this event and contributing in some way to the grand total of what we need.
How did St John’s begin, in the first place?
A fascinating article in the Weekend Argus of July 28, 1984 by Brian Stuart marked St John’s 150th anniversary. Here are a few excerpts from that article:
“The Duke of Wellington reluctantly set foot on the Cape peninsula on his way to India in 1796 and on his way back in 1806 and the place has never been the same since. The young officer found the British garrison encamped at Rondebosch Common with a smaller camp at Wynberg, where there was a fine hill with a commanding view across the Cape flats and Table Bay. Arthur Wesley, as he was then, suggested the move that was to make Wynberg not only the new garrison headquarters, but resulted in the establishment of a new municipality, second only to Cape Town in size…
“On his way back to England from India in 1806, Wellesley made the decision that moved the British garrison to Wynberg, making it a fashionable residence for the upper-crust of society. In those days, officers were gentlemen - scions of the rich, the famous and the peerage. Garrison life was dress uniform, lavish dinners and dances, and cricket and croquet on the lawns…
“Wynberg was still growing fast. The second railway line to be built in the Cape started in 1862 and ended in Wellington, named, needless to say, after the Iron Duke’s historic victory.”
In the growing municipality of Wynberg, a number of evangelical Anglicans started worshiping together in a cottage set aside for that purpose in 1822. As their numbers grew it became necessary to build a church, for which legal authority was gained through Ordinance 6 of 1833 (known as the Wynberg English Church Ordinance).
Brian Stuart’s article adds to the story: “In 1833, the Cape legislative council allowed the “English church” at Wynberg to raise money by means of shares at £5 each share, allowing the possessor to choose his pew in the new church.
“Up went the brick church, and in 1834 it was ready for occupation – giving rise to this month’s 150th anniversary celebrations at St John’s church. Shareholders selected their pews and the Rev Holt Okes, assistant chaplain to the forces in the Cape, decided the date of its inauguration.
“What happened is best described in the words of a report submitted by the trustees of the church to the secretary of State:
“The church was open for public worship on 19th July 1834 and on the following day collapsed. So did the shares.”
“In 1835 it was decided to build a new church at a cost of £1500 on a new site – the grounds on which St John’s Church now stands.
“The second church was completed in April 1839, named the Church of St John the Evangelist, and consecrated on May 19 1843 by Bishop F R Nixon, first Bishop of Tasmania who was on a visit to Cape Town.
“By 1882, the congregation had increased to the extent that a new a bigger church was planned. Added impetus was given to this move at morning prayer on Sunday May 8 1896…”
Our current building was completed just after the turn of the century in 1901. I am sure the first building collapsing the day after it was officially opened was not the only time things did not go well with the ‘plans of men’ in our long history. We are thankful for God’s grace that has seen this church through good
times and bad, forgiven our foolish ways and helped us moved forward.
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