CHRISTIAN UPLIFTMENT

By 1855, the Anglican curate reported a sad state of affairs among the "so-called" Christians.

"It is to be lamented that many Europeans exercise a baneful influence over the Coloureds by their wicked lives," which included a great variety of liaisons.

• There were 21 English men living with unmarried "black" women
• Three English women living with "black" men
• One English woman has renounced Christianity and living with a Mahometan
• A German man is living with an Irish woman
• Three Germans are living with Hottentots
• And many "others" were living together unwed
• Many of the men keep two or three women and living together in a small room in the greatest filth and degradation

"There has been no school or religious services held by any church and, understandably, the ordinary occupations of the week are performed on the Lords Day, the same as on any day."

Land in lower Main Road near the workshops was bought in 1893 and till a building could be funded services were held at:

• First in the open air
• then a small room in Woodstock Market
• and next as the congregation grew ... in a larger premises, the newly erected hall of a body called by an impressive name of the WOODSTOCK EQUITABLE & CONFIDENTIAL FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

In the meanwhile the architect William Twine had kindly given plans for a mission hall and the contract for £525 (pounds) was awarded to F. Hatward.  Robert Cane and Sons of Church Street, Wynberg supplied a foundation stone of granite with a marble inscription panel on it and the stone was duly laid on 10 March 1894 by the mayor of Woodstock, William Hare. The first service was held here on Sunday, 6 May 1894.

SERVICES

There were services for adults every Sunday evening and Monday evening, with an average attendance of 50, and one for children on Sunday mornings with an average turn-out of less than 190.