NG Church Clarens

The Dutch Reformed Church  (c.1940)

The town of Clarens was founded in 1912.

The beautiful sandstone church is centrally located in the town of Clarens, which has become a popular destination

for weddings.  The church can accommodate up to 200 persons comfortably.

Some History

The congregation started with worship services in the hollow cliff at Ouwerf on the farm Naauwpoort.  The NG Congregation Clarens separated from Bethlehem in 1920.  The church services moved to a zinc hall on the site where “Rosewood Corner” is today.

In 1927 The Moerdyk parsonage’s loan was paid and the congregation started a building fund for the construction of a church building.  A target of 6000 pounds was set for this. However, the onset of the Great Depression delayed the building process indefinitely.

In 1936 the congregation decided to first build a building for the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa and in November 1936 this building was consecrated.  In 1937 the congregation resumed the construction process for their own building.  The cornerstone was laid on 24 February 1940 and it was inaugerated on  8 February 1941.

Rev J le roux was the architect and G van Zyl was the stonemason.  The full cost was 4017 pounds.

The church tower originally had a dome in the Eastern Orthodox style, but it was replaced in 1957 with the current style.

Today, this building still stands in the heart of Clarens.  A silent witness to the rich history of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Clarens.