Witzenberg, Ceres, St. Mary's Catholic Church

Abstract

Photographs and information on the bell of St. Mary's Catholic Curch, Ceres. There is a very interesting bell in a horseshoe construction at the Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Ceres. Installed in a very neat bell tower hangs a recent bell that is beautifully decorated. 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 text: + A.D. 1963 + PETIT & FRITSEN AARLE-RIXTEL. HOLLAND 4976 GELEWERD DEUR SUID-AFRIKAANSE ORRELBOUWERS (EDMS) BEPERK.SILVERTON. Then follows a second decorative band. On the front side appears the crest or seal of the foundry. It contains 3 bells (1 and 2) on which one can find the words Soli Dei Gloria (Solely to the Glory of God). At the sound bow one finds some further moulding wires. The Royal Bell Foundry Petit & Fritsen is the third oldest family business in the whole of the Netherlands. It started operations in 1660 and remained one of the main bell founders in the world. It recently was amalgamated with the Koninklijke Eijsbouts in Asten, the Netherlands. Above the bell figures a small memorial plaque with the following text: FRANZISKA –SALESIA PLEGTIGE WIJDING DEUR SY EKSELLENSIE, HOOGEERWAARDE BISKOP P.A. HIPPEL 17 APRIL 1966. This plaque teaches us the name of the bell and its date of inauguration. It is an appreciated fact that the church has chosen a beautifully cast bell that is a real asset to the bell inventory of the Western Cape. It would be of additional interest to learn the role played by the South African Organ Builders in the ordering and installation of the bell.