Die St. John-Anglikaanse kerk, Victoria-Wes

Abstract

Robert Gray was commissioned in 1847 to come to South Africa as the first Anglican bishop of Cape Town. His wife Sophia, a talented architect and artist, assisted him in his work and accompanied him on most of his journeys into the interior. Wherever he established congregations she designed the churches, some of which are still to be seen at George, Knysna, Claremont (Cape), Caledon, Fraserburg, Riversdale, Worcester, Clanwilliam and Victoria West. During their last trip into the interior in 1869 Bishop Gray, his wife and Harold Welby, the resident magistrate, chose the site for the St. John's Anglican church at Victoria West and Sophia Gray designed it. The foundation stone was laid on 27 December 1869 by John Adams but the church was completed only in 1874. The stained glass windows, especially the three above the altar depicting the crucifixion and the resurrection, form a striking feature of this church.