Our witness in Somerset West marks over 180 years this year! 

Since at an early period of the Wesleyan Mission to the Cape of Good Hope occasional visits were made by the
Missionaries to the district of Hottentots-Holland, and meetings were held, first in a cottage and afterwards in a schoolroom; but it was not till 1834, when the time for emancipating the slaves was approaching, that steps were taken to secure a permanent footing among the people of that neighbourhood

On the morning of Saturday 21st June of that year Barnabas Shaw rode over from Cape Town to Somerset before breakfast; and in the course of the day effected the purchase of a house and premises with a parcel of ground, in the lower part of the village being aided in the accomplishment of this by the benevolence of the late Mrs. Brackenbury.n the morn

On the premises stood a large building, which had been used as a wine store, which was soon fitted up in September that year and was formally opened for the public worship of God. Soon after a resident minister was appointed and when classes were formed, a school was established. Two ministers labored here namely the Rev. James Gray and Edward Edwards, until in 1844 Rev. Barnabas Shaw, who had returned to South Africa to finish his course of Missionary labor took up the reins.

Mr. Shaw, now beginning to feel the weight of years and effects of his former toils; but; nevertheless, entered with spirit into the work at Somerset, laying out the Mission Ground in allotments for the people and aiding them in the erection of their houses whilst at the same time preaching the Gospel. The following year Mr. Edwards joined him again and the work extended in various directions. In 1847 the chapel became to small and it was enlarged to accommodate about 500 people.

By 1851 the school had grown to 130 scholars and the church continued to grow. In 1860 the old chapel again became to small and since it could not be enlarged a New Chapel was built. Despite several obstacles including skilled labour and the comparative poverty of the people, the project to build was undertaken in faith prosecuted with energy and zeal and the effort crowned with success and the Chapel which stands at present was formally opened on the 29th August 1861. Since 1861, then, the Methodist Witness has continued to grow under the Helderberg Mountains.

The local school continues to grow under the name Methodist Primary even though we now only offer Spiritual Direction, and have no governing responsibility. The mission grounds continue to house some 40 families who despite the Group Areas Act were never removed from the Centre of town. This major feat was accomplished through the untiring efforts of the first African Coloured Minister appointed in the 1960’s, the Rev. Joe Fourie.

We have been served by many fine Ministers over the years, who have each made their mark in Methodism, such as Rev.’s Thomas Achilles, Roy van der Merwe, David Prins, and past-Bishop of the Cape District Andrew Hefkie. We have recently been blessed by some of the newer Generation of Ministers, such as Delme Linscott, James Headbush, and most recently the current Bishop of the Cape District Michel Hansrod..

EXTRACTED FROM CHURCH ST HISTORY, METHODIST CHURCH