Helderberg, Somerset West, Methodist School

Abstract

Photographs and information on the Methodist School in Somerset West and its bell. In front of the neighbouring Methodist School stands a recently constructed bell tower that looks too large for the rather small bell for which it was intended. Both however have been made simultaneously. The bell looks like a ship’s bell, especially because of the additional hook on the clapper. The decorations on the bell are in bas-relief as is common on ship bells. The reason for the reference to ships is explained by a plaque that tells us that the bell tower and its bell have been erected as memorial to the slaves as forefathers of the Vissers. The bell is richly decorated. Below the shoulder stands DIE ERVE JAPHTA VISSER AO 1992 while below it one finds the founding year 1992 for a second time. On the other waist figures a naïve but complex weapon that also refers to fish.