Mossel Bay, Dutch Reformed Church

Abstract

Mossel Bay, Dutch Reformed Church. The largest church in Mossel Bay is the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk. The current church is the third that has been constructed on the site. The foundation stone of the first brick church was laid on 14 February 1880. The tower soon proved to be unstable and in 1890 the congregation got its second building. But this brick structure later proved to be unstable as well and a totally new church was started at the right-hand side of the older buildings on 5 March 1949 under Hendrik Vermooten as architect. The bells that were hanging in the first building were then transported to their new location in the tower. In the neat tower are three bells in a decorative setup that is easily accessible. The largest bell hangs on top of the other two. According to information on the canons, the bells are made in London. Only the largest bell contains an extensive dedication. 1. The largest bell has two pairs of moulding wires below the shoulder. In between stands on one side of the bell, Cast by Gillet, Bland & Co Clockmakers Croydon London. On the same height but on the reverse side of the bell stands, 1879. Below the information on the foundry figures an extensive text distributed over four lines: Batavorum Apud Sinum Mosselensis Ecclesiae Reformatae Dono Dedit J. G. Leed, Presbiterio, I. C. Horak Ad MCCCLXIX. Above the sound bow are three moulding wires and two more on the lip of the bell. The text on the bell is slightly deteriorated making its reading somewhat unsure. 2. The second bell has two pairs of moulding wires just below the shoulder with in between, J.W. Benson, Ludgate Hill E.C. 1892. Also here, one finds three more moulding wires above the sound bow of the bell and two more on the lip. 3. The smallest bell also has two pairs of moulding wires just below the shoulder with in between, J.W. Benson, Ludgate Hill E.C. 1892. Here however one finds two more moulding wires above the sound bow of the bell and a single one on the lip. The two smaller bells are in excellent condition. The bell chamber of the church in Mossel Bay is rather unique: It is quite spacious and one can get views on the bells from a variety of different angles.