Oudtshoorn, St Saviour Catholic Cathedral

Abstract

The St Saviour Catholic Cathedral has been built by Carl O. Hager and George Wallis. Originally the tower in the centre of the building carried a set of four marvelous bells forged by Petit & Fritsen from the Netherlands. However due to their weights and the instability of the tower the bells have been taken out and stored in a room next to the church building. As a result, it was impossible to make the traditional acoustical measurements.Recently, a white and grandiose bell tower has been erected for the four bells, next to the cathedral. The architects were Smuts and de Kock. On a plaque it is mentioned that: THIS BELLTOWER HAS BEEN ERECTED IN LOVING MEMORY FOR BENJAMIN AND PATRICIA RYAN BY THEIR SONS. One can only be delighted that it is possible to hear the sound of these magnificent bells from their own tower. Since the bells can be chimed individually, we were able to record their tunes on our second visit. What follows is the information that we could collect when we visited the bells for the first time in their position in the store room. Each bell carries the beautiful decorations, so common for bells made by Petit & Fritsen. In the circular band in between the two decorative bands one reads: PETIT & FRITSEN A.D. 1965 SUPPLIED BY SOUTH AFRICAN ORGAN BUILDERS. On their waist all bells have the traditional emblem of the foundry. Still, each bell has its own individuality as each one received a production number from the founder. Moreover, each has received a Latin name. In order of their size from the largest to the smallest, the production numbers and the engraved names are as follows: (4463), SALVATOR MUNDI (Saviour of the World) referring to the dedication of the church, (4464), ADVOCATA NOSTRA (Our Appeal), (5877) APOSTOLATUM SIGNIFICER (Apostolic Messenger) and (5878) PROTECTOR ECCLESIAE (Church Protector). We only could show the inscription on the largest bell.