In 1868, the first Pastorie was built near the Kruiskerk for minister N.J. van Warmelo. Tensions arose during the 1885 unification of Hervormde and Gereformeerde Churches, leading to a property dispute that lasted 11 years. In 1893, after Minister A.J. Louw succeeded Warmelo, conflicts escalated over the Pastorie, resulting in the congregation building a new one. Louw played a significant role in establishing the Heidelberg Hoërskool and served until his resignation in 1931, later becoming Chancellor of University of Pretoria. He passed away in 1935.​

Work was begun on the first Pastorie in 1868. This was next to the “Kruiskerk”, which is now the parking lot of the Klipkerk. The Pastorie was built for DS. N.J. van Warmelo, minister of the “Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk” in Heidelberg.

In 1885, the Hervormde and the Gereformeerde Churches decided to unite, which precipitated a struggle over the division of church property, which included the first Pastorie, when the unification dissolved. Even President Kruger’s intervention failed to settle the affair.

In 1893, when Minister A.J. Louw succeeded Warmelo. Tension reached its peak. The Widow Warmelo refused to vacate the property (previous Pastorie) and while the matter was being legally argued, R.P. Ueckermann and P. Venter took forceful possession of the Pastorie. Once Louw and his family moved in, feelings ran so high that one of his neighbours ran around the house threatening Louw with a firearm! 
The congregation had to build a new Pastorie. Eventually the dispute was settled (after 11 years) and the property was granted to the Hervormde Kerk. The Gereformeerde Church later bought the land. Which is now the car park of the Klipkerk.

In 1896, the Gereformeerde Kerk bought 2 stands from J.A. Smit for 4000 pounds. (Smit had previously paid 37 pounds for them) and a further 50 pounds for the demolition of the existing house. F.J. Bezuidenhout financed the purchase. The Pastorie was built with the stones of the original “Kruiskerk” and was finished in 1897. In 1952 it was renovated.

Ds. A.J. Louw resigned his post in Heidelberg in 1931 and moved to Pretoria, where he was appointed Chancellor of the University there. He died in 1935 and was buried in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery.
During the war, Minister A.J. Louw was arrested and banished to Ceylon, where he remained until the end of the war.

He was to a great extent responsible for the establishment of an independent institution of secondary education, namely the Heidelberg Hoërskool, in the medium of Afrikaans.   

Ds. Adriaan Jacobus Louw
Ds. Van Warmelo was succeeded by DS. A.J. Louw from Vryheid on April 8, 1893 –
Ds. Adriaan Jacobus Louw was born on the 23rd January 1859, in Paarl. He completed his theology training at Stellenbosch in 1884. His first position was at Riebeck-West until 1888. While there he got to know young D.F. Malan and J.C. Smuts as boys in the congregation. He was then called to Vryheid, until he came to Heidelberg in 1893. While here in Heidelberg he received many calls to other congregations, which he did not accept. In 1906 he became a trustee of the Transvaal Church, an actuary from 1897 to 1916 and as moderator from 1916 to 1925. 

Early in the 2nd Anglo Boer War, on the 11th of July 1900, after the occupation of Heidelberg on the 23rd of June, he was arrested and sent to Ceylon where he remained until the end of the war.
On his return from Ceylon he continued his ministry in Heidelberg.  He and Theo Donges started a school and a hostel for the orphaned war children. He was to a great extent responsible for the establishment of an independent institution of secondary education, namely the Heidelberg Hoërskool, in the medium of Afrikaans.   

Ds. Louw and Dr. A.G. Visser had a good relationship. Visser was his neighbour across the road. He was also the doctor for the congregation. Visser had a deep sense of religion, attended church regularly and often played the organ at the church.
There is a story of when Dr. Visser was visiting Ds. Louw. Ds. Louw was peeling a peach and not eating the skin. Dr. Visser remarked that the goodness was in the skin. The next day Ds. Louw sent Dr. Visser a basket of prickly pears with a note, “The goodness is in the skin”.
Ds. Louw’s wife, Maria J Louw died at the age of 60 on the 29th April 1920, after being ill for some time. She is buried in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery.

After the death of her mother, Miss Charlotte Louw took on the responsibility as the daughter of the minister. Visiting and supporting the members, especially the children. She would hold concerts with them from time to time and visiting the children with flowers, sweets or puddings. When Dr. Visser’s two older children, Andries and Annatjie got sick in 1921, she visited them with a bowl of jelly. When the children got better Dr. Visser sent Charlotte a basket of roses with a poem written on an envelope which he had written at the breakfast table. This poem became quite well known.

For Ds. Louw’s 66th birthday, Visser composed a poem especially for him. He did the same at his seventieth birthday on the 23rd of January, which he read out at the birthday function. A few months later Dr. A.G.Visser died. 

Ds. A.J Louw resigned his post in Heidelberg in September of 1931 (He stated due to old age, illness and diminishing health). He had served the congregation for forty years. He was followed by DS. P.J. Viljoen on 9th April 1932.

On the 6th of December 1931, he presented his final service, referring to Acts 21:14 “The Lord’s will be done”. He received a gift of 1500 pounds to buy a house in Pretoria and 10 pounds a month as a pension. He was appointed Chancellor of the University there. 

Ds. A.J. Louw died on the 23rd of September 1935 in Pretoria and was buried in Heidelberg the next day. (Two years after Dr. Visser)

References: “Aan God Alleen Die Eer” by Dr AE Bosman, “Heidelbergers of the Boer War” by Ian Uys, Herbert Prins and “Pro Deo Et Patria” by Dr AE Bosman.

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