Mossel Bay, Herbertsdale, Lutheran Church

Abstract

Mission work in Herbertsdale already started in 1863 by the South African Missionary Society but the station was taken over by the Berliner Missionsgesellschaft in 1872. Later on the mission was taken over by the Lutheran church. On the rear of the church stands a tower which is surmounted by a niche in which an historical bell is hanging. The bell hangs in a niche. The canon consists of 6 angel heads. Below the crown is a broad decorative band. Below it is a moulding ring and a band of drops pointing downwards. There is a text on both sides of the bell but only one side can be seen from the floor. Thanks to the help of the custodian have we been able to reconstruct the entire text. On the top line: Gabe von Christen in Pyritz an die Gemeinde zu Herbersdale (sic). Then follows a decoration with floral motifs. The second line mentions on one side: Gegossen von C.F.Voss & Sohn in Stettin in 1875, No. 608, and on the other side: Lucae 14 v 17. Kommt, denn es ist Alles bereit. This is again followed by a decoration with palms. Above the sound bow are four moulding wires, the top two close together. On the lip one finds a decorative freeze made up of leaf like figures, pointing upwards. From the above it is clear that the bell has been made in the foundry of Carl Voss from Stettin, formerly a city in Germany but now in Poland with the name Szczecin. Moreover, like the original bell in the church in Riversdale, the bell has been a gift of the Pyritzer Missionsfreunde in Germany. The latter bell ended up in Albertinia, probably around 1908 when Riversdale got its Korfhage bell.