Helderberg, Somerset West, Historic Dutch Reformed Church

Abstract

Somerset West, Historical Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk.

The historical Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk dates from 1819. Since a couple of years the church building has been taken over by the New Apostolic Church that has been restoring the building in a magnificent way. In a detached tower hangs one of the older bells in the city.

The inscriptions on the bell are minimal but at the same time puzzling. In between two pairs of moulding wires stands

Michael Breda 1816

There are two moulding wires on the lip of the bell. The letters in the inscription are poorly formed suggesting that the bell might have been made by a local founder. The Breda-family of course has had a very long tradition right from the beginning of the development of the Cape area. According to a reference in the book by Green there should be a similar bell in the Koopmans-De Wet Museum in Cape Town but up to now we have been unable to find this sister bell.

Another interesting feature of the church is the large number of graves and tombstones on the grounds of the church. Many of these graves belong to individuals that played an important role in the history of the village and its surroundings.