26 June 2021 - Heidelberg Heritage Association Post on Klipkerk

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The first church of the Dutch Reformed was a “kruiskerk”, where the parking lot is, was built by HJF Ueckermann. TF Carter describes:- “A very sturdy, plainly built brick building built in a cruciform shape which one might mistake for a barn.

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The NG and NH churches united in 1888, which was then known as the United church. Many disputes arose. Over the building of the new church, demolition of the old Kruiskerk , ownership and the naming of the new church arose. In 1889, a new church plan was approved seating 800 people (originally 600). Architects were Brislen and Veale. Builder was Mr JB Kirton at a cost of 15 000 pounds. Norman design like the churches found in England and Scotland.

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The cornerstone was laid by Commandant General PJ Joubert on the 12th April 1890 and the inauguration service took place on the 13th March 1891. With the splitting up of the parts of the united church, it was necessary to separate the properties and give each group their fair share. The situation became quite controversial. No agreement was possible and even Paul Kruger failed to arbitrate. But was finally settled in the supreme court in 1897 allocating the Klipkerk building to the united church and the pastorie (rectory) to the NH. The older Kruiskerk was still standing was not mentioned in the judgment and was demolished in 1898. Since then it has been the property of the NG Church.

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A strange development was that the minister of the united church, NJ van Warmelo who had come to Heidelberg as a NH minister in 1867, stayed with the united church, but his wife and daughters joined the breakaway group, with her becoming their organist.

Ds Nicolaas van Warmelo, came from Holland and initially served the church in the Soutpansberg. He was called to be a minister of the Hervormde kerk in Heidelberg from 1868. From 1885 to his death in 1892 he was the minister for the united church. He died trying to reunite the 2 churches.

After his death his wife refused to move from the “Pastorie” and a new house had to be built for the new minister, DS Louw. She stayed there another 10 years.

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After the Boer war, the cellar was used as a primary school and started with 24 war orphans and some of the congregation’s children. The tower collapsed in 1909. It happened a few hours after the minister Ds AJ Louw and some of his church council members had been up in the tower to inspect some cracks that had appeared. Rev. Louw was sitting at the lunch table two blocks away, heard a crash and said “Daar val die toring”. (there goes the tower).The cause of the collapse was identified as bad workmanship and three days of continuous rain. A new tower was constructed and inaugurated by JD Kestell in 1911.

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In 1954 the church was renovated and the number of seats increased by adding a seating gallery. The stone pulpit was replaced by a smaller, wooden one. The stone pulpit is at Hoer Volkskool.

The name united church continued to be used for some time until 1959 where a stone plaque in the entrance hall marks the renaming of the church.

A fire in 1967 caused serious damage to the inside. A new organ was erected and the outside of the building was also renovated. The repair costs total was R33 000.00.

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In 2018, the clock and bells have been repaired, after at least 50 years by a German donor.

Ref: Geskiedenis van die Ned. Geref. Gemeente by Dr AE Bosman, Geskiedenis van Heidelberg by JJ Smit, unpublished works of Noel Roberts and 150 Jaar van Genade. Pics: Lille McGregor, Anglo Boer War Museum.

​17 March  2021 - Heidelberg Heritage Association Follow-Up Post on Klipkerk

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Ds. Nicolaas Jacobus van Warmelo (1835 – 1892)
Nicolaas Jacobus van Warmelo was born in Gouda, Netherlands on the 8th of September 1835, where his father was minister to the “Nederduitsche Hervomde Church”. He received his school teaching at the Latin school in Gouda. From 1853 to 1858 he studied theology at the University of Leiden. He studied under professor J.H. Scholten, who was the ground breaker of Netherland’s Liberal ideas.

After his studies, he waited fruitlessly for a calling, but there was a surplus of ministers. So he decided to come to South Africa in August 1862, with the anticipation of being accepted in the “Nederduitsch Gerevormde Church” of South Africa. The Cape Church, in the mean time, required a “colloquium doctum” to all the candidates that wanted to serve. Nicolaas objected it.

While he was waiting, he met Ds. G.W. Smits from the “Ned. Herv. Church” of Rustenberg, that was visiting Cape Town. He was convinced to take a calling on the vacant position in the Soutpansberg. He first returned to the Netherlands to get married to Miss Josina van Vollenhoven. 
On the 14th June 1864 he went to Potchefstroom and then onto Schoemansdal. The most northern post of white occupation at the time. He was inducted as the Soutpansberg minister on the 30th of June 1864, by Ds. G.W.Smits. There he built up the church and school. Josina did two drawings: one of the Pastorie and the other, of the church in Schoemansdal.

Two tragedies set him back. His first wife (Josina) dies on the 28th of January 1865. 11 months and 11 days after their marriage. And the repeated attacks from enemy black groups forced him to leave.
He then went to live with some of his congregation in Marabastad, until he left for Heidelberg.
When Ds. Van Warmelo came to Heidelberg, there was no accommodation for him. He hired a house from H.J.F. Ueckermann, which the church board paid Pounds 3-10-0 for six months rent.

On a winters communion evening on the 18th of July 1866, Ds. Van Warmelo was inducted, by Ds. A.J. Begemann, as the first minister of Heidelberg. He was to be the leader of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church and eventually the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church or Nederduitsch Gerevormde Church, as the united church was named until his death in 1892.    

  
Interestingly Ds. Van Warmelo brought with him the Church Bell that was used at Schoemansdal, to Heidelberg, on the understanding that it would be returned to the Northern Transvaal Congregation at a later time. The bell became redundant and the whereabouts of it is unknown. 
In Heidelberg, he married Maria Magdalena Elizabeth Mare, daughter of Dietlof Siegfried Mare (1850-1916), magistrate of the Zoutpansberg on April 5th 1867.  From this union five boys were born, two of whom were deceased, and two daughters, of whom the youngest, Johanna van Warmelo, became a well known author. Like his wife, he could play the piano and serafyn (an old type of organ). 

On the 17th July 1868 the Church Board unanimously agreed that a Pastorie needs to be built, as they had enough money to begin building. Ds. Van Warmelo suggested that he, together with F.K. Mare form a building commission to expedite the building. The Church Board agreed and F.K. Mare was notified in writing. 
In 1873, Ds. Van Warmelo went on leave to Holland for a few months. He was missed by his congregation. They sent out a welcoming party to meet him, one hour away, on his return and the church was filled to capacity the following Sunday.

In April 1877, Ds. Van Warmelo did a report on intended improvements on the “Pastorie” and another building to serve as a new study room for him. (His “sanctum sanctorum”) Where he could study and prepare his sermons in peace. After his home was furnished with furniture from the Netherlands, he boasted that he had the prettiest Pastorie in the Transvaal. It was this same building that had so much contention in later years.    
In 1880, after the annexation of the Transvaal, a proclamation by the British government stated that no large meetings were to be held. The burgers however met at Paardekraal, by Krugersdorp, on the 8th of December 1880. On the Sunday, the 12th December, Ds. Van Warmelo, was the only minister that listened to the call. He gave a sermon and inspired the men. He had a great influence on the burgers and called on support and help of the almighty God in their planning of war. 

During the short war, Ds. Van Warmelo preached to the commandos. With the victory of Amajuba he held special service of thanks, thanking God for His help and guidance in the war.  
In 1882 Ds. Van Warmelo was the scribe for the commission that was commissioned into looking at the idea of uniting the two churches. He played a leading role, although he was not in favour of uniting the two churches.
He was very interested in education and was even offered the position of being the Superintendent of Education by President Burgers, which he declined. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first school building and the procurement of a qualified teacher in Heidelberg.

He was a friend to children and would often play with them on the Market Square.
He was also very much a gentleman with politeness, refinement and respectability. J.F. van Aardt saw him as the most respected minister of the “Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek”. 
Although Ds. Van Warmelo had to travel a lot, like most ministers, he still found time to give his family and children attention. The last years of Ds. van Warmelo were not happy years. In the conflict of the churches, his own wife and children did not support him and went over the Hervormde Church. Even old church members left him, which hurt him very much. 

According to witnesses, he never doubted the uniting of the two churches. It must be said that his Church Board stood by him and encouraged him. Ds. van Warmelo died on the 21st of April 1892 and was buried in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery 5 days later. Commandant Piet Joubert was present at the funeral representing the government.

Van Warmelo, Dietlof, (son of Nicholaas and Maria) is also well known because he wrote the book “On Commando”.  About his time as a Boer soldier during the Boer war.  He wrote it whilst imprisoned in India. He lived to 94 and is buried at the Kloof Cemetery. Johanna Brandt (nee Van Warmelo), born in Heidelberg, sister of Dietlof, known as Hansie,  wrote a book: “the Petticoat commando”.  It was a book about the time when she lived with her mother in Pretoria, during the 2nd Anglo Boer War.  They acted as secret agents, smuggling messages to Holland under the noses of the British occupation force.

She later married Rev.  LE Brandt, a preacher in the NH church.  She was also a prophet who received visions about the future of South Africa, after which she wrote several books on controversial healing practices.

References and Pictures: “Aan God Alleen Die Eer” by Dr AE Bosman, “Heidelberg Geskiedenis” by JJ Smit, “Story of Heidelberg” by Noel Roberts, “Fight to the Bitter End” by Ian Uys and Nicolaas Clarke in artefacts.co.za.

​Source: Heidelberg Heritage Association - Article Post 1 - 26 June 2021 (Click to visit website)