St Barnabas Anglican Church
St Barnabas Anglican Church
St Barnabas Anglican Church
Heidelberg’s old church buildings are rather exceptional. Diagonally across the street from the Dutch Reformed Church sits the white building of the St Barnabas Anglican Church.
The first St Barnabas Anglican Church was built in 1859 and consecrated in 1860. The present building with its serene atmosphere, dating to 1889, replaced the older building that fell into disrepair.
The brilliant white building with its brick red roof and typical church windows and cross on top of the high pointed roof over the vestibule, is striking in its simplicity.
The most southerly skirmish during the Anglo-Boer War took place right between the church and the hotel in 1901, when Jan Theron’s commando rode over Gysmanshoek Pass and attacked the town.
The town of Heidelberg dates back to 1855 and was named after the German city of the same name, built similarly on the banks of a river. It is now part of the greater Hessequa municipality and is regarded as the western gateway to the Garden Route, midway between the towns of Riversdale and Swellendam on the N2.
This small town in the Western Cape is probably one of the most beautiful towns on the N2 with wonderful old houses and an amazing history that comes alive when you go for a walk in it’s streets. It is a wonderful walk, with lei-water (irrigation) streams, the town is still mostly untouched and safe with friendly people.
Die St Barnabas Anglikaanse Kerk in Heidelberg in die Wes Kaap is een van die pragtige historiese geboue wat te sien is in die prentjiemooi dorpie langs die N2 op die Tuinroete.
