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Date: 1828 Status: Extant   Click to view large map Coordinates: 34°00'15.68" S 20°39'11.49" E Alt: 120m

Now the United Reformed Church. Transcript of information on side of building: KORT GESKIEDENIS DIE CHRISTENDOM HET NA SUURBRAAK GEKOM NADAT DIE LONDONSE SENDINGGENOOTSKAP (ONDER LEIDING VAN EERW. JOHN PHILIP) DIE EERSTE SENDELING, EERWAARDE JOHANNES SEIDENFADEN NA DIE GEBIED GESTUUR HET. DIT WAS OP VERSOEK VAN DIE PLAASLIKE KHOISAN-HOOF, KAPTEIN HANS MOOS EN MET DIE GOEDKEURING VAN DIE GOEWERNEUR VAN DIE KAAP, GRAAF CALEDON. HIERDIE GEBOU DATEER UIT 1828. SHORT HISTORY CHRISTIANITY CAME TO ZUURBRAAK WHEN THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY (UNDER REV. JOHN PHILIP) SENT THE FIRST MISSIONARY, REVEREND JOHANNES SEIDENFADEN, TO THE AREA. THIS WAS DONE ON REQUEST OF THE LOCAL KHOISAN CHIEF, CAPTAIN HANS MOOS AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE CAPE, COUNT CALEDON. THIS BUILDING DATES BACK TO 1828. The building was erected during the time of Rev. Heinrich Helm between 1827 and 1848, probably c1835. (Fransen 2004:464) The original main entrance which was in the centre of a wide dormer gable has been built in and this is where the altar now stands. The place where the door was is used as a bicentennial (1812-2012) memorial and information panel. References: Fransen, Hans. 2004. The old buildings of the Cape. A survey of extant architecture from before c1910 in the area of Cape Town - Calvinia - Colesberg - Uitenhage. Johannesburg & Cape Town: Jonathan Ball Publishers. pg 464