Witzenberg, Tulbagh, Old Church

Abstract

Photographs and information on the church bell of the Old Church, Tulbagh. An impressive bell hangs at the gate of the Old Church in Tulbagh, between two vertical poles. In a former leaflet about the church it was mentioned that the bell dates from 1722. However, the current bell is definitely another one. It has a canon with four wings. The bell has a clapper and is used as a ringing bell. At the top of the bell we find a decorative band followed by a reversed triangle on the waist, maybe a founder's emblem. Within the triangle we discover three anchors, with the middle one larger than the two adjoining ones. Then 2 moulding wires followed by the inscription H.E. RUTHERFOORD.&.BRO. Below another set of two moulding wires follows the inscription that contains CAPE.TOWN. and another pair of moulding wires on the sound bow. The English spelling of Cape Town suggests that the bell might only be some 150 years old. Closer investigation should clarify this and tell us more about the founder and the former use of the bell. Howson Edwards RUTHERFOORD (1794-1862) was a very successful business man who together with a brother owned the firm 'H.E.Rutherfoord & Bro'. The firm was active in the shipping industry and had its main office on 3 Burg Street, Cape Town. The seal on the bell has three anchors and is probably the emblem of the firm. Among the ships that have been linked to the firm are Northam, Syria and Windsor Castle. This last ship was one the boats that brought the bells of the Cape Town carillon to South Africa. Rutherfoord was known for his charity, generosity and piety. Towards the end of his life he was a member of the Legislative Council at the Cape. In 1864 his family erected a fountain in his memory in the Company Gardens.