Theewaterskloof, Riviersonderend, Dutch Reformed Church, Church Hall

Abstract

Photographs and information on the Riviersonderend Dutch Reformed Church hall and its bell tower and bell. A bit down the road of the church is the Church Hall of the Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk. Next to it stands a well-designed bell tower. Within the tower hangs the ship’s bell of the Clan McGregor, a 1901 steamship of the A. McMillan & Son Com. from Dumbarton that crashed in Ryspunt on 30 May 1902. Information on the fate of the ship can be read on a plaque that hangs on the church side of the bell tower. On the bell one can only read the name of the ship which is - as commonly done on ship bells – forged in a circular shape. Below it one sees a small decorative symbol. The text on the plaque reads as follows: HEROPRIGTING VAN KLOKTORING 1989 DIE OORSPRONKLIKE KLOK VIR DIE KERKSAAL WAS GESCHENK DEUR MNR P.A. MYBURGH VAN WELSTAND PROTEUS EN WAS HIER OPGERIG OP ’N HOUTTORING EN IN GEBRUIK GENEEM MET DIE INWYDING VAN HIER DIE KERKSAAL OP 20 SEPTEMBER 1924. GEDURENDE 1930 IS DIE KLOK ONHERSTELBAAR BESKADIG EN AAN DIE SKENKER TERUG GEGEE. DIE HUIDIGE KLOK, AFKOMSTIG VAN DIE BRITSE SKIP, DIE CLAN MACGREGOR, GESTRAND BY RYSPUNT BREDASDORP OP 30 MEI 1902 IS TOE AANGEKOOP EN OPGERIG OP DIE OORSPRONLIKE TORING IN 1932. GEDURENDE 1984 WORD DIE TORING AFGEBREEK EN IN 1989 HEROPGERIG IN SY HUIDIGE VORM.