Drakenstein, Wellington East, Dutch Reformed Church

Abstract

The first stone of the Nederduits Gereformeerde church of Wellington-Oos was laid in 1976. The architect was J. Anthonie Smith. The church has a light and white tower. In the tower hangs a bell that has been well conserved and shows all the traditional decorations found on bells of the foundry. Below the shoulder one first finds a decorative band with flowers and angels playing the violin. Underneath this figures the information about the foundry, the year of founding and the suppliers. In a single line all around the bell one reads: GELEWER DEUR SUID AFRIKAANSE ORRELBOUERS BEPERK SILVERTON. + + PETIT & FRITSEN, AARLE-RIXTEL, HOLLAND 5926 + + A.D. 1974. Then follow two moulding wires with in between a set of dots and underneath a third decorative band with hanging leaves in ogive form. Above the sound bow one finds a set of five moulding wires. The number 5926 refers to a registration number in the order book of the company. From the early fifties of last century onwards, the Suid-Afrikaanse Orrelbouers (SAOB) started intensive business with the foundry Petit & Fritsen. Apart from the Western Cape, the foundry had a lot of business with other areas in South-Africa like Transvaal and the Pretoria region. While most orders came from the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk, also orders from churches of other denominations have been registered. The Royal Bell Foundry Petit & Fritsen is the third oldest family business in the whole of the Netherlands. It started operations in 1660 and remained one of the main bell founders in the world. It recently amalgamated with the Koninklijke Eijsbouts in Asten, the Netherlands.