Dutch Reformed Church, Reformed church in Franschhoek, South Africa.
The Dutch Reformed Church is a church building on the main road through Franschhoek, completed in 1847 and enlarged with two wings in 1883. It was thoroughly restored in 1967 and 1968, and a year later an earthquake caused only minor damage thanks to that work. The building was declared a National Monument in 1972.
A chapel was built on the site in 1833 and consecrated by Rev. Van der Lingen of Paarl. The congregation separated from Paarl in 1845, and the current church building was consecrated on 18 April 1847. It was enlarged in 1883 and thoroughly restored in 1967–68, completed on 16–17 November 1968.
The valley was first called Olifantshoek; its later name Franschhoek recalls the French Huguenots settled here in 1688, and family and farm names, graves and the Huguenot Monument unveiled in April 1948 still mark that presence. Services switched from Dutch to Afrikaans from 1929, with Afrikaans Bibles from 1933 and an Afrikaans Psalter from 1937.
The location is easy to find in central Franschhoek along a main road, making it accessible to visitors. Regular services provide opportunities to experience the place in use.
The organ bought in 1923 cost £1,200, roughly R3.8 million in 2013 terms. A 1967–68 restoration costing R60,000 followed, and when an earthquake struck a year later the building suffered only minor damage thanks to that work. The church was declared a National Monument in 1972 under Rev. Muller.
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