Drakenstein, Wellington, Dutch Reformed Church

Abstract

Photographs and information on the bells of the Dutch Reformed Church in Wellington, South Africa. he Dutch Reformed Church has two bells, one outside in a horseshoe clock tower, and the other inside the bell tower of the church. The bell inside is large as can be expected from a bell in one of the main churches in the region. The only word decoration on the bell can be found at the top of the bell in between two pairs of moulding wires: BARWELL FOUNDERS BIRMINGHAM 1899. The bell has been attached to a wheel intended for chiming. Unfortunately, chiming the bell has created heavy vibrations of the entire tower. The bell was therefore fixed and an outside hammer installed. Just below the bell is a large clock installed by Gillett & Johnston in 1892 and still in perfect condition. This clock is linked to the bell above and to the four hour plates that surround the tower. Outside the church is a bell of fair size but a bit suffering from hanging in bad weather conditions for many years. There are four times two moulding wires on the bell. In between the first and second pair is found the only further decoration, namely 1833 making it one of the oldest outside bells in the region.