Over the years it has become a habit to visit the Belvidere Church in Knysna during short holiday breaks and this blog article dedicated to this special Church.
The Belvidere Holy Trinity is small and modeled on the Norman churches of the 11th and 12th centuries and built of locally mined sandstone and stinkwood beams.
Thomas Henry Duthie was the founder of the village of Belvidere and he married Caroline, the daughter of George Rex and they were instrumental in the building of this historical little Church. The gardens are well kept and the Church sits in the middle of an old stone wall. Graves of the founders of Knysna families, Duthie, Rex and Thesen are dotted all over.
Another interesting snippet regarding the building of the Church is that for the first six months in 1851 stonemasons blasted stone at a quarry somewhere and brought the stone to the site. The stonework was completed by the middle of 1852 and the roof started. In 1853 the Church was opened for service. However the consecration had to be delayed until 5 October 1855 when the Bishop came to Knysna for a visit. One of the stained glass windows is dedicated to Augusta Vera Duthie and another to William Henry Moore Duthie and Alfred Gorge Duthie, granddaughter and grandsons of Thomas Duthie.
The Church is open for viewing and still in use on Sundays for the local community of Belvidere. If ever in Knysna and you need a quiet place to reflect - you won't be disappointed. Let the photo's tell the story.
'Enter though who are weary' |
A glimpse past the dogrose |
Pride of Madeira standing watch |
A glimpse through the gate |
The Indian Hawthorn lining the pathway |
A plaque inside the Church |
Inside the Church |
Behind the altar |
A prayer book at the entrance to the altar |
I left a prayer for my family and my friend Sonja |
Stay. Linger. Breathe. |
Be restored |
It was so quiet and peaceful |
Augusta Vera Duthie = granddaughter of the founder |
In loving memory of .... Thesen |
Moss that lingered and never left |
On the other side were a few very small tombstones. Possibly children. |
I left a flower. |
Bougainvillea bursting in colour |
Near the entrance = an enormous wooden cross |
A stroll past the Old Rectory is always part of my visit and part of me can imagine myself living here in this tranquil place, far from the maddening crowd.
The Old Rectory |
Yep, I'll be able to manage this garden |
The Old Rectory |
A dogrose blooming generously over a wooden wall |
The Indian Hawthorn bloomed generously here too. |
A closer peep over the wall at the generously blooming Hawthorn |
The older homes were my favourite |
A pile of stones at the foot of the cross have grown since my last visit. I added one too. |
Map to Church here
"Pause as though enter, Traveller, and bethink thee
How Holy and yet how homelike is this place
Time that though humbly spends here shall link thee
with men unknown who once were of thy race."
Stunning blog Sissi. Thank you for taking me into this place of God's peace by leaving a prayer request for me there. Love, Sissi Sonja
ReplyDeleteMy Sissi, once again I visited this lovely place and thought of you. I left a message for all MSA patients. RIP. #curemsa Msainsouthafricawithsonja.Blogspot.com
DeleteWhat a beautiful little church - it's like a scene straight out of an English countryside!
ReplyDeleteMy apologies Craig for never thanking you for popping in.
Delete