The Congregational History

 

Our congregation has a rich history dating back from 1898, when the Rhenish Missionary School was established. Situated next to the Old Stellenbosch Road better known as the Old Wagon Road or “Trek Pad”, that stretches from Cape Town to Stellenbosch and is now known as Old Stellenbosch Road.

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At the beginning:  Matrozen Fontein Estate. That was the name that the owner and agency Mr. H. Brown registered this part of the Cape Flats. The first community members of Matroosfontein had to walk 6 miles to Sarepta, Kuilsriver to attend and participate in the mass on Sundays.

As the Dutch Missionary Came to the Cape. So did the founding of our church. The Missionary founded a school along the Old Wagon Road in a place called Matroosfontein.

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As religion was highly important to the community, Mass was held in the school building. The Church members grew and this caused the development of the uprising of a new structure next to the school and was as a central point in the town called Matroosfontein. In the Year 1900 of our Lord Jesus Christ the Rhenish Church Matroosfontein was established. And soon thereafter followed the congregations Elsies River and Bellville South.

At the time the war in Germany had a great impact on the Dutch Rhenish Missionary and all missionary was seized outside Germany. Leaving the Rhenish Missionary Churches in Southern Africa stranded, without any support. The church as a whole had to find a way to support her congregations. The decision was made that the Rhenish Church shall form an alliance with the “N.G. Church”

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Due to conflict that later arises between the Rhenish Church Congregations, Matroosfontein, Elsies River and Bellville-South and the “N.G. Church”, led to that these three churches would go a separate way and became known as the Independent Rhenish Church.

Rev. G.J. Thomas was acting Reverend and School Manager of these three congregations. Rev. G.J. Thomas’s life is known as a selfless act towards the Lord’s work. In light of this conflict occurred between Rev. Thomas’s Independent Rhenish Church and the Council for the Rhenish Church Southern Africa on the case of church property. This was a long and strenuous case which was resolved in the Supreme High Court. The solution was that the land would be divided the school building was later sold to the Moravian Church as well as the cemetery which lays dormant now.   

 

Due to his health conditions and the social needs of the church the congregation Matroosfontein decided to join the Calvyn Protestant Church of South Africa.

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On 1969 the church was established and registered as The Calvyn Protestant Church Matroosfontein. The first Calvinist Reverend to be placed at the congregation was Rev. D. van der Heever. Later the Calvyn Protestant Church Elsies River in 36 Ave joined the Matroosfontein Congregation and a brand new church building soon followed.

 

All Glory to God !!, a church that inspired and established a community.

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