THE Aberdeen Dutch Reformed Church stands proudly in the centre of town, with an impressive spire that some say is the tallest in the country at a little over 50m.
Coming into Aberdeen from Graaff– Reinet, one can see a slight “lean” of the spire to the left, due to the weight of the roof tiles added onto the wooden framework.
On the west side of the church grounds, there is an olive tree which was grown from a slip from the Garden of Gethsemane.
As well as the church itself, many tourists take the opportunity to visit the collection of appliqued wallhangings in the nearby church hall.
These beautiful panels are a major attraction in Aberdeen, as can be seen by the comments from visitors from all over the world in the guest book.
They depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments, lovingly crafted by local volunteers.
The story behind their creation tells of the typical spirit in a small Karoo town.
The church hall is used for many functions in the town, and in 1999 the then Dominee, F.S. Viviers, decided that something needed to be done to improve the acoustics.
Johanna Konig, an artist and former teacher, was given the task of designing the panels, using material and wool glued onto a hessian base.
This soon became a project for the whole town, as many people donated materials (striped pyjamas are much in evidence) and expertise.
The project took three months to complete, and those who were unable to contribute to the creative process kept the volunteers supplied with tea and cake, making the project a great example of community spirit.
Two huge panels were later added in the church itself, to block out the light from two of the windows, and in December 2016, König and her sister, Freda Strydom, spent two weeks creating a new artwork of a nativity scene, now displayed in the eastern porch.
Visitors are welcome to view the panels in the hall and in the church, which can be opened on request. For viewings, contact Ewald Swanepoel on 082 532 2821.
