Difference between revisions of "St Stephen's Church"

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There are two churches with theatrical connections in Cape Town and one in Port Elizabeth by this name. They are [[St Stephen's Church]], Riebeeck Square, in central Cape Town, St Stephen's Bible Church in Claremont and St Stephen's Church (with adjacent hall) in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth.
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'''There are a number of churches in the country known by this name. Two in particular are of are of great importance in the history of South African theatre.'''  
  
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The first mentioned and the third are both of great importance in the history of South African theatre.
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They are:
  
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== [[St Stephen's Church]] on [[Riebeeck Square]]==
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= [[St Stephen's Church]] on [[Riebeeck Square]], Cape Town=
  
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This is a church housed in one of the oldest custom-built theatre buildings in the Southern hemisphere. [[The African Theatre]], was designed by [[Sir George Yonge]] and built in 1800 as a custom built theatre venue for the citizens of Cape Town. It served as a theatre for about 35 years, but by 1838 had fallen into disuse under the pressure of the [[Anti-theatrical movement]] led by Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and the related [[Temperance Movement]].
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==History==
  
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'''(For more on the history of the original theatre, see [[The African Theatre]])'''
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This is a church housed in one of the oldest custom-built theatre buildings in the Southern hemisphere. [[The African Theatre]], authorized and designed by the then British Governor, [[Sir George Yonge]], it was built on what was then known as the "[[Boerenplein]]" ("farmers' square"). Construction commenced in 1799 and the theatre was opened on 17th November 1800.
  
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The theatre building was thus sold in 1839, and the Presbyterian church rented the space to begin St Stephen's congregation there, with the support of the [[Dutch Reformed Church]]. It was intended as a church for freed slaves. In 1857 the [[Dutch Reformed Church]] bought the original structure and took over the congregation. This has made it the only [[Dutch Reformed Church]] named after a saint; and its congregation is the only [[Coloured]] congregation that formed part of the [[NG Kerk]] (the mother church), with full admission to its synod, under the old British and Apartheid regimes - since all other [[Coloured]] parishes of the [[N.G. Kerk]] belonged to the daughter or mission church.  
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It went on to serve as a theatre for about 35 years, but by 1838 had fallen into disuse under the pressure of the [[Anti-theatrical movement]] led by Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and the related [[Temperance Movement]]. As a result, the theatre building was thus sold in 1839 and the Presbyterian church rented the space to begin St Stephen's congregation there, with the support of the [[Dutch Reformed Church]]. It was intended as a church for freed slaves.  
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In 1857 the [[Dutch Reformed Church]] bought the original structure and took over the congregation. This has made it the only [[Dutch Reformed Church]] named after a saint; and its congregation is the only [[Coloured]] congregation that formed part of the [[NG Kerk]] (the mother church), with full admission to its synod, under the old British and Apartheid regimes - since all other [[Coloured]] parishes of the [[N.G. Kerk]] belonged to the daughter or mission church.  
  
 
The building, repeatedly menaced with demolition, was proclaimed a historical monument in 1965. Intermittent attempts have been made to raise funds for a necessary and extensive restoration of the historical building, particularly in the period between 2001 and 2010.  
 
The building, repeatedly menaced with demolition, was proclaimed a historical monument in 1965. Intermittent attempts have been made to raise funds for a necessary and extensive restoration of the historical building, particularly in the period between 2001 and 2010.  
  
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The [[St Stephen's Church]] was the first theatre or, as some of the [[Dutch]] speaking population called it, the first "[[komediehuis]]" in South Africa. During the first British occupation of the Cape the public, and especially the garrison, lacked an adequate venue for entertainments. The British Governor, Sir [[George Yonge]], designed and authorized the building of a theatre. In 1799 construction of a theatre was started, on, what was then known as the "[[Boerenplein]]" ("farmers' square").
  
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In 1936, after the years of depression, the building was in a fairly poor condition and there was talk of selling it. The danger was averted for the time being through the intervention of various cultural organisations with the support of the Historical Monuments Commission.
  
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The only building is [[St Stephen's Church]], but it was, in fact, the first theatre or, as some of the [[Dutch]] speaking population called it, the first "[[komediehuis]]" in South Africa. During the first British occupation of the Cape the public, and especially the garrison, lacked adequate entertainments. The British Governor, Sir [[George Yonge]], authorized the building of a theatre. In 1799 construction of a theatre was started, on, what was then known as Boeren Plijn.
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In 1949 a firm who proposed to build a parking garage on the site made an offer ten times the amount offered in 1936. Fortunately, however, it was saved because the area proved too small for the project and the City Council refused to sacrifice an extra nine metres of Riebeeck Square. As a result, the church was able to retain the building pretty much as it was after 1824, so items like the stage and dressing rooms are still there, the latter having become the vestry. Even the shops below are still in use. Nothing of course has remained of its once elegant interior.
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The theatre was opened on 17th November 1800. At street level, there was provision for a number of shops, workshops and even storerooms. Above these was the theatre itself. The walls were of Table Mountain sandstone, rough-dressed and bonded in clay, but the upper courses of the walls were of stone mixed, with half-burnt bricks and plastered over. The exterior was distinguished by a low pitched roof, buttresses surmounted by urns, a row of oval windows and a covered colonnade of four columns reached by two gracious stairways. The stairways were demolished in 1824, but the building stands just as it was. Nothing remained of its “elegant” interior.The building soon proved to be ineffective as a theatre and fell into disuse. In 1838, when the four-year period of indenture of the slaves elapsed, Dr Adamson of the Presbyterian Church used it as a school for freed slaves. The Rev. G. W. Stegmann of the Dutch Reformed Church supported him and it was soon used as a school during the week, and as a Sunday School and a place of worship on Sundays. It is said the church, the only Dutch Reformed Church that bears the name of a Saint, was called after the first martyr because the dissatisfied slaves stoned it on a certain Sunday while a service was in progress.
 
  
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In 1936, after the years of depression, the building was in a fairly poor condition and there was talk of selling it. The danger was averted for the time being through the intervention of various cultural organisations with the support of the Historical Monuments Commission.
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Nevertheless, the threat that the church might be demolished remained. It was only through persistence, tact and persuasion on the part of the incumbent the church leaders, among them Rev P.S. Latsky (who served for over 33 years, 1930-1955 and again 1961-1968), and others cultural leaders who fought for its preservation that the building was eventually declared a South African National Monument.  
  
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In1949 a firm who proposed to build a parking garage on the site made an offer ten times the amount offered in 1936. Fortunately, however, it was saved because the area proved too small for the project and the City Council refused to sacrifice an extra nine metres of Riebeeck Square.
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''For more on the history of the St Stephen's Church as a '''theatre venue''', see the entry on '''[[The African Theatre]]''' in [[ESAT]], and for more on the building as a church, see the entry on the [[South African History Online|SAHO]] website[http://www.sahistory.org.za/places/st-stephens-church-riebeeck-square-cape-town]''
  
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The threat that the church might be demolished remained. It was only through persistence, tact and persuasion on the part of those who fought for its preservation that the building was eventually declared a National Monument.
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'''''Interesting aside:'''''
  
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It
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''In 1965 a Geoffrey Denis Kilpin, a former SA Airforce fighter pilot and owner of the farm Boesmansrug near Villiersdorp in the Western Cape, designed and had a smaller version of the original St Stephen's Church in Cape Town built on his farm, as a place of worship for his farm labourers.''
  
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==Sources==
  
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St. Stephen’s Church, Cape Town, Cape Province is the only Dutch Reformed church named after a saint; and its congregation is the only Coloured congregation that forms part of the [[NG Kerk]] (the mother church), with full admission to its synod, while all other Coloured parishes of the N.G. Kerk belong to the daughter or mission church.
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"St Stephen's Church", [[South African History Online|SAHO]] website[http://www.sahistory.org.za/places/st-stephens-church-riebeeck-square-cape-town]'''
  
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The rectangular edifice was erected during the First British Occupation as the [[African Theatre]] and is the oldest theatre building in South Africa, having been erected for that purpose by the Governor, [[Sir George Yonge]], on what is now Riebeek Square, where it was opened on 17th November 1800. Thus it is the only church building that was formerly a theatre. Under the Batavian regime the theatre was called the [[Afrikaansche Schouwburg]] , but to the populace, it was simply known as the [[Komediehuis]]. The basement was and still is used for workshops, storage and similar purposes. The building, repeatedly menaced with demolition, was proclaimed a historical monument in 1965.
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Gert van Lill. 2002. St.Stephen-kerk het kleinsus op Boesmansrug. ''Kultuur Kroniek'', ''[[Die Burger]]'' 9 November, 2002.  
  
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L.G. Latsky. 1992. "St Stephen's" In: ''Levensessens. P.S. Latsky: 'n Biografie'' (Privately published)
  
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Utilized as a performance space on occasion again between 2002 and 2010, to raise funds for the extensive restoration of the historic building in this period. 
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
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= [[St Stephen's Church Hall]], New Brighton, Port Elizabeth=
  
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== St Stephen's Church Hall, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth. ==
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[[St Stephen's Church Hall]] (also referred to as '''[[St Stephen's Hall]]''') was built alongside [[St Stephen's Church]] in Gratten Street, New Brighton township, in 1963. Among many other activities, it was used as a [[venue]] for the staging of a number of the [[Serpent Players]] apartheid-era protest productions, including ''[[Friday's Bread on Monday]]'', ''[[The Coat]]'', and ''[[The Last Bus]]''. The hall was packed to capacity for many of the productions.  
  
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St Stephen's Church Hall was built alongside St Stephen's Church in New Brighton township in 1963 and was used for the staging of many of the [[Serpent Players]] apartheid-era protest productions, including [[Friday's Bread on Monday]], [[The Coach]], and [[The Last Bus]]. The hall was packed to capacity for many of the productions. In 2013 the hall was renamed the [[Douglas Ngange Mbopa Memorial Hall]].
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In 2013 the hall was renamed the [[Douglas Ngange Mbopa Memorial Hall]].
  
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==Sources==
  
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'''For more on the history of the St Stephen's Church, Riebeeck Square, building as a church, see the entry on the [[South African History Online|SAHO]] website[http://www.sahistory.org.za/places/st-stephens-church-riebeeck-square-cape-town]'''
 
  
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'''For more on the history of the original theatre, see [[The African Theatre]]'''
 
  
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'''See also [[Church and Theatre in South Africa]] on the [[Anti-theatrical movement]]'''
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
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== Return to ==
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= Return to =
  
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Return to [[ESAT Venues S]]
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]

Latest revision as of 07:03, 4 May 2024

There are a number of churches in the country known by this name. Two in particular are of are of great importance in the history of South African theatre.

They are:

St Stephen's Church on Riebeeck Square, Cape Town

History

This is a church housed in one of the oldest custom-built theatre buildings in the Southern hemisphere. The African Theatre, authorized and designed by the then British Governor, Sir George Yonge, it was built on what was then known as the "Boerenplein" ("farmers' square"). Construction commenced in 1799 and the theatre was opened on 17th November 1800.

It went on to serve as a theatre for about 35 years, but by 1838 had fallen into disuse under the pressure of the Anti-theatrical movement led by Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and the related Temperance Movement. As a result, the theatre building was thus sold in 1839 and the Presbyterian church rented the space to begin St Stephen's congregation there, with the support of the Dutch Reformed Church. It was intended as a church for freed slaves.

In 1857 the Dutch Reformed Church bought the original structure and took over the congregation. This has made it the only Dutch Reformed Church named after a saint; and its congregation is the only Coloured congregation that formed part of the NG Kerk (the mother church), with full admission to its synod, under the old British and Apartheid regimes - since all other Coloured parishes of the N.G. Kerk belonged to the daughter or mission church.

The building, repeatedly menaced with demolition, was proclaimed a historical monument in 1965. Intermittent attempts have been made to raise funds for a necessary and extensive restoration of the historical building, particularly in the period between 2001 and 2010.

The St Stephen's Church was the first theatre or, as some of the Dutch speaking population called it, the first "komediehuis" in South Africa. During the first British occupation of the Cape the public, and especially the garrison, lacked an adequate venue for entertainments. The British Governor, Sir George Yonge, designed and authorized the building of a theatre. In 1799 construction of a theatre was started, on, what was then known as the "Boerenplein" ("farmers' square").

In 1936, after the years of depression, the building was in a fairly poor condition and there was talk of selling it. The danger was averted for the time being through the intervention of various cultural organisations with the support of the Historical Monuments Commission.

In 1949 a firm who proposed to build a parking garage on the site made an offer ten times the amount offered in 1936. Fortunately, however, it was saved because the area proved too small for the project and the City Council refused to sacrifice an extra nine metres of Riebeeck Square. As a result, the church was able to retain the building pretty much as it was after 1824, so items like the stage and dressing rooms are still there, the latter having become the vestry. Even the shops below are still in use. Nothing of course has remained of its once elegant interior.

Nevertheless, the threat that the church might be demolished remained. It was only through persistence, tact and persuasion on the part of the incumbent the church leaders, among them Rev P.S. Latsky (who served for over 33 years, 1930-1955 and again 1961-1968), and others cultural leaders who fought for its preservation that the building was eventually declared a South African National Monument.

For more on the history of the St Stephen's Church as a theatre venue, see the entry on The African Theatre in ESAT, and for more on the building as a church, see the entry on the SAHO website[1]

Interesting aside:

In 1965 a Geoffrey Denis Kilpin, a former SA Airforce fighter pilot and owner of the farm Boesmansrug near Villiersdorp in the Western Cape, designed and had a smaller version of the original St Stephen's Church in Cape Town built on his farm, as a place of worship for his farm labourers.

Sources

"St Stephen's Church", SAHO website[2]

Gert van Lill. 2002. St.Stephen-kerk het kleinsus op Boesmansrug. Kultuur Kroniek, Die Burger 9 November, 2002.

L.G. Latsky. 1992. "St Stephen's" In: Levensessens. P.S. Latsky: 'n Biografie (Privately published)

Go to ESAT Bibliography

St Stephen's Church Hall, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth

St Stephen's Church Hall (also referred to as St Stephen's Hall) was built alongside St Stephen's Church in Gratten Street, New Brighton township, in 1963. Among many other activities, it was used as a venue for the staging of a number of the Serpent Players apartheid-era protest productions, including Friday's Bread on Monday, The Coat, and The Last Bus. The hall was packed to capacity for many of the productions.

In 2013 the hall was renamed the Douglas Ngange Mbopa Memorial Hall.

Sources

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to ESAT Venues S

Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc

Return to The ESAT Entries

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