Religious conditions: 1870-1899 Dutch Reformed Church The twentieth congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Transvaal was established on Bethal in 1890. Notwithstanding the fact that the NG Church only received independence in 1890, there were already as early as 1880 organised ministry of members of the Dutch Reformed Church on the Ermelo site. Already before 1880, on 5 December 1879, eleven children were baptised by Rev. Murray of Amersfoort on farm Naudesfontein. This ceremony was done during an outdoor communion service. From the founding of Bethal, there were regular church services that were held, two or three times each year. In May 1881 it was the Rev. H L Neetling who conducted the services. In November of the same year, the services were conducted by the Reverend Stephanus J G Hofmeyr. From 1882 to 1885, the Rev. H J Neethling was the custodian for Ermelo, while he regularly observes services in Bethal. According to the Church Album, an emergency Church was erected at Bethal. It was made up of stone, wood and zinc. In the Church Hall, which was shape like a “T”, a school was also established there. On October 13, 1895 Rev. Theunissen left Bethal and moved to Standerton. On 30 October the following year, the Rev. P W Ennis was confirmed as minister of Ermelo for fastening and personally took care of spiritual needs for Bethal as from January 1887 to 1890. 1890 was also a year that Bethal saw spin off to an independent congregation.The first elders of the new congregation were brothers D A Louw, P J Uys, H J Human and F J van der Merwe. Deacons were brothers J L Faurie, G du Preez, C H Boshoff and J D Ungerer. During 1892 Rev. A P Burger baptised seventy children and confirmed ninety. To have own shepherd and minister was the goal that Bethal up to that far, had not reached… On February 17, 1893 Theunissen was ordained by Rev. A P Burger as shepherd and minister for Bethal. For the young energetic and initially unmarried clergyman, was Bethal a great challenge. The National song of 29 April reported thus: *“Het dorp gaat vooruit. De groote nieuwe winkel van mijlen de firma G Beit Co. zal, naar wij vernemen, in Juni a.s. voltooid zijn. *"De nieuwe pastorie is reeds vensterbank hoog en moet zeer net gebouw worden, en ook het Gouvernements kantoor met bijgebouwen ziet er van buite netjes uit." Congregational ministering took place from outside, and only on January 25, 1897 was a successful career on Rev. J P Liebenberg. He was on 3 April 1897 at Bethal confirmed as pastor. The planning for a new church building – with a contract price of ₤8 500 (R17 000) – was done. This included a church with a gable, seating for 1 000 people, an English pipe organ and eight bells of different pitches. On June 1, 1899, foundation excavation was Rev Theunissen, shortly after his marriage. started. Building - of hewn sandstone - commenced. As in the case of education; the outbreak of the war took its toll, as well in religion. *Roughly translated as: “The town is improving. The great new store of… the firm G Beit Co. will be, we are told, completed in June. “The new parsonage is already windowsill high and should be a very neat building, and also the Governmental office with outbuildings looks of exploited neat.” 20
34 Publizr Home