The church is a lovely gothic building and worth spending time visiting. See the photos including one from 1917- it was not always white. Given the size of the town, the church is impressive.
In 1875, a commission appointed by the Graaff-Reinet Dutch Reformed Church, purchased portion of the farm, Uitkyk, from A.S. & J.P. Pienaar for ₤4000. Plots were sold off to interested parties and the Dutch Reformed congregation was established in 1878. The first minister, Ds. H.F. Schoon, was appointed in 1882. Services were initially held in the house of Mr B.J. Pienaar. Later his old wagon house was converted into a church and then into the church hall, eventually falling into disuse. Recently renovated, this building is available for weddings, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, etc.
A municipality was established in 1880 and given administrative rights while the church obtained ownership rights. This meant that the inhabitants were heavily burdened, having to pay rates to both the church and the municipality. The church, not wishing to prosecute members of the congregation, apparently had to write off considerable arrear rates. Only in 1951, was the property rights of the erven sold and transferred to the municipality.
During the term of office of Ds. A.A. Weich (1890-1908), a new church was built. The edifice was consecrated on 11 Feb 1905. Stones for building the church, some almost 2,5m long, were obtained from the town commonage. The problem of transporting the long beams by ox wagon was solved by the well-known blacksmith and transport rider, Freddie Lehman, by placing bales of straw on the wagon so that the beams protruded over the hind oxen.
The church cost ₤5600 to build and, at the date of consecration, R7330 was still owing. To raise funds, the Church Council decided to subdivide 46 morgen of its irrigable ground into erven of around 1.5 morgen each and to sell these by public auction. Only on 1 July 1929, was the debt finally settled.
There is some fine wooden carving on the old church pews and the original chandeliers are quite unique. The church has seating for 700 souls. The original chandeliers are quite unique with the antiquated carbide gas generator for the gas lighting pre-dating the arrival of electricity in the village. Unfortunately it is no longer operational. Once a year though, early in December, an evening Christmas service is held with conventional gas used to light the lamps.
There had not been a permanent minister since 1961, but on most Sunday mornings a service is held by a minister from Graaff-Reinet. The church clock still chimes accurately on the hour and the church is lit with flood lights at night, giving it another photographic dimention.
The church can be viewed by arrangement. Contact Billie Olivier on…. or Lou +27 (0) 82 7823880
2. The Old Watermill
The old watermill in Nieu-Bethesda was erected in 1860 by Mr B.J. Pienaar, on the original farm, Uitkyk.
The Water Mill belongs to the Dutch Reformed Church and the income from the mill was used to pay the pastor’s salary. With the help of the late Boet van Heerden from Doornberg, the mill was put back into operation in the 1980s by replacing the original wooden waterwheel with a metal wheel. It was repaired again by the late Pierre Offerman and was to be used as a tourist attraction, however, this plan was abandoned due to children playing on the wheel when it was working and this was deemed unsafe. A group of residents got it working again recently and it is currently in working condition and used to make flour intermittently on some Thursdays when water runs through the village.
If you’re walking from the Owlhouse, cross the bridge opposite the Owlhouse to the west bank of the river to the mill. Or drive around.
to view the inside of the mill you can contact Charl du Toit on 083 654 7014.
944 Hill St, Nieu-Bethesda, So...
Martin St, Nieu-Bethesda, 6286...
Parsonage Street, Nieu-Bethesd...
