Rev R B Murray was curate from 1955 to 1958 and in 1959 Rev E H Latsky came back to the congregation where he stayed until both ministers accept their retirement. Their successors were the Rev. Fourie and the current Rev Du Preez. Meanwhile Bethal-East established Congregation of the Mother Church from which the operation is conducted by Rev Van den Berg, the Rev Du Rand and currently, the Rev P B Grobler. A few years ago, Bethal-North Congregation, led by the Rev Flip Grobler, was established. The congregation church building is currently under construction. Reformed church during snow falls in Bethal. Reformed church After the war, claims were lodged to the Imperial Government for the ruining of the church and rectory by the English. As a result, the compensation of R800 was received. After the war, the Rev J A van Rooy became custodian of Bethal and in 1906 Rev P Postma. In 1910 the church council decided on erection of a new church building. Twelve plots were purchased at R50 a piece in another part of the town for that purpose. A tender for construction of the new church was accepted. In October 1914 the church building was officially inaugurated. In October 1916 probationer J C vd Walt served in a combination career of Bethal-Germiston. Later he went to Piet Retief and the period of custodian operation follows. In 1925 a combination of Johannesburg-East was incurred and Rev T T Spoelstra was replaced, in 1927, by Dr P J S de Klerk. Later, in 1928, the Rev W J de Klerk became custodian. On 5 April 1930 occupation of Bethal, Standerton and Volksrust was carried out by probationer S du Toit as a minister. However, he settled at Bethal. The Afrikaans Bible, by way of a joint festival with other Afrikaans churches, started to be used in August 1933. In April 1935 the Rev S du Toit was appointed senior pastor. During this period the church celebrated with great gratitude, on 17 November 1940, their 50thyear of existence. Probationer J P Coetzee was the next minister and he served for eight years with great devotion in the congregation. In 1963 the church council allowed the building of comfortable and beautiful parsonage. That same Rev Coetzee left the congregation and Rev C M J van Vuuren accepted the occupation in March 1964. Since then he continued to work with great zeal in his church, as well as in the field of education. 76
91 Publizr Home