Ds. A.J. Louw
Full name: Ds Adriaan Jacobus (Attie) Louw
Lifespan: 1859 Paarl - 1935 Pretoria
Also see: House Louw
Ds. Louw was the long-serving Dutch Reformed (NG) minister in Heidelberg, Transvaal, from 1893 until his retirement in 1931.
He completed his theology studies in Stellenbosch in 1884. His first congregation was Riebeek West (where he knew young D.F. Malan and J.C. Smuts as boys). He later served in Vryheid before accepting the call to Heidelberg.
He succeeded Ds. van Warmelo and was inducted on 8 April 1893. He served the Heidelberg congregation faithfully for 40 years, turning down calls elsewhere. He moved into the old NG manse on 5 November 1897. He also held senior church positions: actuary of the Transvaal Church (1897–1916), moderator (1916–1925), and trustee (from 1906).
He married Maria J. Louw (? - 1920). Their daughter Charlotte Louw later took on many of the “minister’s wife” duties, visiting sick church members and organising children’s events.
He was instrumental in founding the Heidelberg Volkskool (people’s school) for Afrikaans-speaking children and served as its first principal or key supporter.
After the Anglo-Boer War he worked with Theo Donges to establish a school and hostel for war orphans (many from the local concentration camp). The Nederduitsche Gereformeerde congregation under his leadership took responsibility for 28 local orphans.
He continued pastoral work in the historic Klipkerk / NG Kerk.
After British forces occupied Heidelberg, Ds. Louw refused to take the oath of allegiance to the British authorities. He was arrested and deported to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), where he remained until the end of the war.
His neighbour, the well-known Heidelberg poet and doctor Dr A.G. Visser, wrote poems for Louw’s 66th and 70th birthdays.
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