Spending a night in Graaff-Reinet recently I made sure I popped by the Dutch Reformed Church (Groot Kerk) on the Monday morning to see if I could actually get into the church. The cornerstone of the church was laid on 12 April 1886 and it cost what was then a staggering 7,500 pounds. The inaugural service took place on … Continue reading Die Groot Kerk and the fireplace
Tag: church
Graaff-Reinet’s Groot Kerk – a sight to behold
The view of the Groot Kerk at the top of Graaff-Reinet's main drag is something you don't sommer forget that easily if you've ever visited this Karoo Heartland town. As you enter the town from the south the church slowly becomes visible at the top of the main road. It looms out above the surrounding buildings … Continue reading Graaff-Reinet’s Groot Kerk – a sight to behold
Kareedouw Church flowers
I love the bright red flowers vs blue sky colour contrasts in this photo I took of the historic Dutch Reformed Church in Kareedouw in the Langkloof.
Kareedouw Dutch Reformed Church
Kareedouw is the first town you encounter when you travel into the Langkloof on Route 62 from the Port Elizabeth side. The name is thought to come from the KhoiSan word !karegadaob which means "A road past many Karee Trees".Kareedouw was established in 1905 as a Dutch Reformed Church congregation and I am assuming that is also … Continue reading Kareedouw Dutch Reformed Church
Karoo Heartland Churches
Looking through everything I have that still needs to be posted I decided to take three Karoo churches and make up one Random... Karoo churches post. Just about every small town in the Karoo Heartland of the Eastern Cape has a remarkable church of some sort. Cradock must have one of the most memorable Karoo Heartland churches there … Continue reading Karoo Heartland Churches
Overberg churches along the N2
My last trip down to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth took a slight different form from the usual. Normally one would barrel down the N2 trying to cover the distance as quickly as possible but on my last trip down I decided to turn off into each of the towns along the N2 through the Overberg … Continue reading Overberg churches along the N2
Cradock’s Mother Church
The Dutch Reformed Church at the top of Church Street in Cradock is probably this Karoo town's most imposing landmark. The first Dutch Reformed congregation in the town was established in 1824 and the church was the town's first. Paul Kruger, who went on to become the President of the Transvaal Republic, who was born on a farm … Continue reading Cradock’s Mother Church
Robertson Dutch Reformed Church
Most small towns around South Africa's histories are very closely woven into that of the church and often these towns got started because of a church. In this case the town of Robertson in the Western Cape is no different. In 1728 a large piece of land which fell within the very large boundaries of … Continue reading Robertson Dutch Reformed Church
The new kid on the Jozi skyline
The Nizamiye Turish Masjid - or Midrand Mosque - has made a big impact on the Johannesburg, and in particular Midrand, skyline. The mosque with its 55 meter high minarets is the brainchild of retired Turkish property developer Ali Katircioglu (known as “Uncle Ali”) and was modelled on the Selimiye Camisi mosque in Edirne, Turkey.
Angel weather vane
Usually you would see a chicken, and in particular one who doesn't lay eggs, on top of a church spire. Every now and then you do encounter a different one and that was the case with this angel weather vane on top of the Dutch Reformed Church in Robertson in the Western Cape. Visit Skywatch for some more … Continue reading Angel weather vane
Firefly the Travel Guy 