Genadendal

Valley of Grace

Visit the oldest Mission Station in South Africa, with its beautiful setting at the foot of the Riviersonderend Mountains about 30 km from Caledon

The early beginnings

        The Moravian Church (originated in 1457 in Moravia, today part of Slovakia) had a particular zeal for mission work and in 1737 the young bachelor missionary Georg Schmidt was sent to the Cape. Many thought that mission work among the Khoi (Hottentots) was attempting the impossible, but in spite of this Schmidt settled on 23 April 1738 in Baviaans Kloof (Ravine of the Baboons) in the Riviersonderend Valley.

Schmidt became acquainted with an impoverished and dispersed Khoi people who were practically on the threshold of complete extinction. Apart from the few kraals which still remained, there were already thirteen farms in the vicinity of Baviaans Kloof. Within a short while Schmidt formed a small Christian congregation. He taught the Khoi to read and write, but when he began to baptise his converts there was great dissatisfaction among the Cape Dutch Reformed clergy. According to them, Schmidt was not an ordained minister and so was not permitted to administer the sacraments. Consequently he had to abandon his work, and in 1744, after seven years at Baviaans Kloof, he left the country.

The mission work resumed 

        Only in 1792 did the Moravians obtain permission to resume Schmidt’s work at Baviaans Kloof. For this task three missionaries, H. Marsveld, C. Kühnel and D. Schwinn, were chosen. When they arrived they found the ruins of Schmidt’s dwelling, with a great pear tree  in the garden. There was also an old woman, Magdalena, whom Schmidt had baptised, whose acquaintance they made. She was able to show them a Bible (on display in museum), kept in a leather bag, which had been given to her years ago by Schmidt. The missionaries listened with amazement when she asked her daughter to read a portion of the New Testament to them. When the work in Baviaans Kloof was resumed, the missionaries and the members of their congregation had to cope with a number of problems. The Stellenbosch D.R.C. questioned the authority and the desirability of mission work in Baviaans Kloof, which lay within the boundaries of their ministerial district.

 

        Although Governor Sluysken found their objections invalid, Ds. Borcherds succeeded in persuading the Cape authorities to forbid the ringing of a church bell in Baviaans Kloof.

 Bell and Church at Genadendal, 1816 (Latrobe)

        At one stage a commando of Strandveld farmers threatened to put an end to the mission work by force. Many of the farmers on the remote farms, where they lived in isolation, were illiterate and could not accept that the Khoi and other people enjoyed the privilege of receiving a Christian education. The bush telegraph spread the tale among the Baviaans Kloof people that if they became literate the Cape authorities would send them to Batavia. The farmers were moreover of the opinion that the mission station was merely a hiding place for murderers and thieves. What actually happened was that the mission station became a place of refuge for many labourers because they often were treated badly on the farms.

The "Golden Age" 

        The number of inhabitants increased so much that at one stage Genadendal was the largest settlement in the Colony after Cape Town. Noteworthy developments took place in the early nineteenth century, so that Governor Janssens, after his visit in 1806, decided to change the name of the mission station to Genadendal (Valley of Grace). To give the people an enriching and uninterrupted Christian education, it was important to maintain them permanently on the mission station. Job creation at a local level was necessary’ and in this way the mission station developed into a self- sufficient community. Up to the end of the nineteenth century it enjoyed a "Golden Era". Home industries, including amongst others the forging of knives (the well known herneuters), flourished, and Genadendal became an important educational centre. The first Teachers’ Training College in South Africa, now the Museum building, was erected in 1838.

        The success of this flourishing community was blighted when it fell victim to the iniquities of unjust legislation, e.g. the Communal Reserve Act of 1909 for Mission Stations, which prevented the inhabitants from obtaining property rights. With its strong religious roots, its industry and training, Genadendal had the potential to develop into a centre of learning and perhaps even another Stellenbosch. But this was prevented by its "coloured" status. In 1926, the Teachers’ Training College was closed down by the Department of Public Education who argued that the "coloured" people had no need of tertiary education, and were better employed on the farms in the area. These policies caused impoverishment, degradation and stagnation of the town, and a loss of community pride.

        However, the new democratic elected town council is supporting all efforts to introduce new community projects in order to create jobs on a local level.

 Genadendal, circa 1802, during its 'Golden Age'

Genadendal today

Registered occupants: 3 500

Education: 

Religious life: A number of Churches with divergent view points-Moravian Church, Volks Church, Old Apostolic Church, New Apostolic Church and a number of Pentecostal groups.

Useful telephone numbers:

On 1st February 1995 President Nelson Mandela announced that his official residence in Cape Town, formerly known as Westbrooke, has been renamed Genadendal. The name bears symbolism that God’s grace is also resting on the State President, as it is in the case of the oldest mission station in Southern Africa. On 10th October 1995 he paid an official visit

 

Genadendal Church Square

All buildings declared as National Monuments in 1980.  Regarded as the most authentic Church Square in the country. 

  1.  Church Building (1891 - 1893)
  2.  Bell (1798) which, according to the D.R.C. congregation "disturbed" them at Stellenbosch. 
  3.  First Church/Middelhuis (1795 - 1796) 
  4.  House of Schmidt’s successors (1793) now a tea room 
  5.  Memorial Garden (1937), site where the cottage of the first missionary (Schmidt) stood.
  6.  Old Mill (1796) according to John Barrow, Colonial Secretary, it was "superior to any in the Colony"
  7.  Old Tannery (1831), first double storey in the Overberg 
  8.  Printing Works (1815 - 1817) 
  9.  Mission Store (1899), now Craft Centre and Bakery 
  10.  Shop keeper’s house
  11.  Old School Buildings (1814, 1835,1879) now a Conference and Accommodation Centre 
  12.  Wagon House (1827) the oldest ox waggon in the R.S.A used by Cl. Latrobe in 1816 with an early Cape cart and hearse on display 

  13.  Kuhnel House (1800,) the rear wing was the old Genadendal Guest house, is now the Cottage Museum 
  14.  Herrnhut House (1838) first Training College for teachers in South Africa, now Mission Museum
  15.  Hallbeck House (1892) Educational and Research Centre and Pottery 
  16.  Teachers’ houses (early 19th Century buildings)
  17.  First Infant School in the interior (1830) 
  18.  Church Offices (1825) 
  19.  Parsonage (1825) 
  20.  Parsonage (1824)
  21.  Path to Cemetery/Pear Tree (third generation of the tree planted by Georg Schmidt in 1738)
  22. Cemetry (1800)
  23. Nursery
  24. Khoi-Kraal 

Mission Museum

        The museum collection is housed in a building which was erected in 1838 as the first Teachers’ Training College in South Africa.

Mission Museum on the far left with Educational / Research Centre on the right

        The contents of the museum were declared a National Cultural Treasure on 8 March 1991. Most of the collection on display has been produced and used at this mission station. Genadendal (1738), the oldest mission station on the continent of Africa, was one of the most progressive ‘communities at the Cape during the 19th century. The Moravian Missionaries and members of the congregation, apart from fulfilling their religious duties, carried out pioneering work in the fields of education, music, printing, vernacular architecture, furniture making and other local industries.

        There are 15 exhibition rooms with a unique collection ranging from household equipment, musical instruments, medical equipment, tools, books, printing presses, the oldest fire-engine and oldest pipeorgan in the country etc., etc.

Fire-engine

Museum School Service

        School groups are welcome to contact the education officer for conducted tours - slide and video shows on historical, environmental and conservation topics.

Visiting hours

Mon.-Thurs.: 9:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00 
Fri.: 9:00-15:30
Saturday: mornings
Sundays on special request, phone (028) 2518220

Places of interest

Moravian Church
The Moravian Church has the largest percentage of inhabitants as members. There are 1000 communicants and services take place on Sunday at 10h00 and 19h00 (summer)/18h00 (winter). They are known for their, beautiful choir singing and brass band performances.

 

Genadendalse Drukkery/Printing Works
One of the oldest Mission Presses in South Africa which is still in operation. Tel. & Fax (028) 2518140

Moravian Restaurant
Traditional foods - bookings beforehand. Phone for menu or give your own order: (028) 2518523.

Nursery
A wide variety of plants are being organically grown without harm to the environment.

Water Mill
Stone ground flour and traditionally baked bread in open air ovens available on certain days.

 

Helpmekaar Home Industry
Specialises in bedding and tracksuits.

Art & Craft Centre/Gift shop/Information Centre/ Bakery
A variety of local products on sale.