Aka: Church of the Vow, Voortrekker-Museum
Built: 1840-1841 : 1911
Original church (1910).¹
Timeline
Pietermaritzburg was founded in October 1837. The name is composed of the names of
Piet Retief and
Gerrit Maritz. Before the name Pietermaritzburg was given, the area was known as
Boesmansrant (Bushman's Ridge). Pietermaritzburg was the first permanent congregation established by the Voortrekkers. A congregation was indeed founded at Winburg—however, it was a "Trek" (mobile) congregation. In 1839 Pietermaritzburg became the capital of the short-lived Republic of Natalia.
From L-R: Ds. Erasmus Smit (1778-1863), Gerrit Maritz (1797-1838), Sarel Cilliers (1801-1871), Piet Retief (1780-1838), Andries Pretorius (1798-1853).
The first minister to serve the Trekkers was the
Reverend Erasmus Smit. During the trek, he held two worship services on Sundays and was also responsible for the catechism of the Trekker children. His wife, in turn, provided schooling for the children. The Trekkers were all "Hervormers" (Reformed) who came from the Cape Colony and moved into Natal.
On Day of the Covenant (Geloftedag), Afrikaners commemorate the murder of the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief, and his party on 6 February 1838, and the Battle of Blood River which followed on 16 December 1838. Before the battle, Voortrekkers under the leadership of
Andries Pretorius and
Sarel Cilliers made a vow to God that if they won the battle, they would erect a church in His honour.
The attack at Blood River was initiated from Pietermaritzburg. After the victory at Blood River on 16 December 1838, most of the Trekkers returned to Pietermaritzburg. Some of the Trekkers went to Port Natal (Durban). The vow, which was made at Blood River, then became a reality in Pietermaritzburg with the construction of the Geloftekerk—first a small temporary reed church and thereafter (1839-1840) the brick building. Cilliers campaigned for it to be erected in Pietermaritzburg.
Collection lists were drawn up for this initiative and were also supported by a few English speakers. Donations even arrived from the Cape and the Free State. People who could not make a financial contribution to the fund provided building materials. The entire Pietermaritzburg community was involved in the construction of the church. Skilled builders did the masonry work, while the rest of the men quarried stones from a stone pit. The church was to be 50' x 30' x 13' high.
On 15 March 1840, the Geloftekerk was inaugurated, and Erasmus Smit was inducted as its first minister. The church was completed in the middle of 1841.
Pulpit. Unidentified photographer.⁵
In 1861 a second larger church, the
Toringkerk, was constructed close by. After 1861, the original building was used as a school for a short while. However, due to major financial losses, the church council decided in 1863 to sell the small church building to Mr. Brayhirst, on the condition that it would never be used as a hotel or canteen (pub). By 1865, however, Brayhirst was declared bankrupt and it once again became the property of the congregation.
- Thomas Vicar Brayhirst (1818 England - 1902 Dundee) was a British settler. By 1854-1861 he is recorded as a trader and occupier at various addresses in the city, including 37 Pietermaritz St and 26 Church St.
Thereafter, it was leased to the government and again utilized as a school until 1873, when the church was sold for a second time to a Mr. Whitelaw. Between 1873 and 1910, the building was then used as a workshop, soda water factory, pharmacy, and tea room. In March 1910, it was reported that the building was saved just in time, before it could be demolished for the construction of a roller-skating rink.
"Die Geloftekerk - Na die diens" by J.H. Pierneef, which appeared in Die Huisgenoot, Dec 1938. Image source: Antiquarian Auctions.
Renovation and re-use
Various individuals led the campaign for the collection of funds to restore the building. The public provided information on what the building originally looked like and donated items to the museum. By October 1911, the old plaster, windows, and door were replaced. The dilapidated floor was replaced with a yellowwood floor, and the original yellowwood ceiling was cleaned.
The restoration was concluded in October 1911. On 16 December 1912, the building was re-opened as the Voortrekker-Museum. It was later transfered to the government and was declared a national monument in 1938.
"The Geloftekerk in the capital, Pietermaritzburg dates from Voortrekker times, but the curly gables and tiled roof which it has today are ill-advised twentieth-century substitutions for the original simple straight gables and thatch roof."²
Statues
There are two statues to the south-west of the church:
Commemorative plaques
On the first plaque is the date 16 December 1912, when the Voortrekker Museum was opened.
On the second plaque is the date 15 March 1840, when the inauguration of the Covenant Church (Geloftekerk) took place: "Gedenksteen as huldeblyk aan die gedagtenis van die stoere Voortrekkers wat die blanke beskawing na die binneland van Suid-Afrika gedra het en hierdie Geloftekerk, die eerste kerkgebou benoorde die Oranjerivier, opgerig en op 15 Maart 1840 ingewy. Eeufees 1938."
On the third plaque is 10 February 1840—the date of the peace treaty between the Voortrekkers and the Zulus. At the upper reaches of the Black Umfolozi River, two stones were laid, presumably placed there by Andries Pretorius and Mpande during the conclusion of the peace.
Publicity photo. Unidentified photographer.
Replicas
There were once ambitious plans to build full-scale replicas of the Geloftekerk in other parts of South Africa. Miniature replicas were erected at the NG Kerk Wittedrif (Plettenberg Bay), Hoërskool Sarel Cilliers (Hobhouse), Leeudoringstad, and the Voortrekker Monument (Pretoria).
Replica of the Geloftekerk adjacent to the NG Kerk Wittedrif, Pletterberg Bay. Image source: Brenda Van Rooyen on FB.
Locality map
Sources
- Rex, H.M. (1973) Die Viering van Geloftedag. Die Hervormer, Dec 1973.
- Fransen, H. (1982) Three Centuries of South African Art.
- Heunis, V.R. (2008) Monumente en gedenktekens opgerig tydens die simboliese ossewatrek en Voortrekkereeufees, 1938. (thesis)
- Smith, E.F. (2001) Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk Pietermaritzburg: 80 jaar.
- Fourie, P. (2020) Die lief en leed van die oorspronklike Geloftekerk. Maroela Media.
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