Breede Valley, Worcester East, Dutch Reformed Church

Abstract

Worcester, Dutch Reformed Church East. The Dutch Reformed Church of Worcester-East has a thin tower that is totally loose from the main building of the church. In the tower hangs a bell that could not be reached because the floor below it was completely sealed off. After a previous theft of the bell, the church authorities decided to make the bell inaccessible. Via a rope it was possible to ring the bell and to make a sound recording. We have however found some information on this specific bell in the Regionaal Historisch Centrum, Eindhoven that houses the archives of the foundry. We learned from these archives that South African Organ Builders (SAOB) often ordered bells from Petit & Fritsen. If the current bell is still the same, then it should weight 198 kg while it was billed to the church on 24 September 1952. We expect that on top of the bell one finds a first decorative moulding wire with flowers and angels playing the violin. Below this a band that runs all around the bell and with the following texts:+ A.D. 1952 Petit & Fritsen Aarle-Rixtel, Holland + And potentially in Afrikaans: “Supplied by South African Organ Builders Pty Limited, Silverton.” Then follows a second decorative band with hanging flowers below which appears the crest or seal of the foundry.