Saturday, January 16, 2010

St Mark's ... we celebrate a century of worship


St Mark's is more than a century old ... the centenary celebrations were spectacular celebrating our many cultures. 

The first congregation of the church met in Mrs. Wilkes, schoolroom in Muller Street in Yeoville and later on in the Freemason Hall in Hunter Street. The first minister, Rev John Scott, from Ireland was inducted in 1905.

There were no roads or street lighting but the intrepid members of the new church would navigate the wet and muddy veld armed with faith, Macintoshes and lanterns to attend service.

This enthusiastic congregation raised money and bought the land on the corner of Frances Road and Kenmare Street for 600 pounds on which to build their own church. The architect Mr. G. Grainger Fleming – an Elder – waived his fees as a donation to the church.

The hall was built and dedicated on the 1st of October and named the “Yeoville Presbyterian Church” thus supplying the great need for spiritual endeavour in the rapidly growing area. The cost of building and furniture was a little over two thousand pounds.

Sourced from
BUILT ON GOLD – A Short History of St Marks Presbyterian Church

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