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History: This church was designed by Sophie Gray. She was not an architect but the clean lines and simplicity of design make it a most attractive. building. She maintained that churches were built for worship and not for beauty and in this church she seemed to have succeeded with both objects.
When Bishop Gray, the first, senior cleric arrived in South Africa in February 1848 he found the Anglican Community completely without religious leadership and no place of worship. Churches of other denominations, mainly the Dutch Reformed, were used for service.
A tireless couple they set out on a vigorous campaign of collecting the church’s adherent and building churches. Money was collected locally but in the main in England. The Gray’s themselves were not wealthy but they made generous donation to the extent that they completely exhausted what small capital they had. During Bishop Gray’s first visit inland in September 1848, he handed one of Sophie’s plans to the Caledon Anglicans. This was to be the start .of a long series of trials and disappointments. In 1849 Caledon was dickering and Sophie pressed for building to commence. On 31 May 1850 the foundation stone was laid but by the end of that year very little progress had, been made and much money had. been wasted due to a Mr. Sandberg who was in charge of arrangements.
By 1852 the roof, the second, was completed at a cost of a further £200, the original having been blown off. More dissatisfaction resulted because the plans had not been adhered to. At last on 25 August 1855, the church was consecrated by Bishop Gray.
The little stone and thatched church is set virtually in the centre of the town, and the interior is strongly reminiscent of an old English village church.
At the centenary celebration, held on 25th August 1955, when Voster van der Byl was the incumbent, various donations and alteration marked the occasion. Among them were now teak doors for the north and west porches, oak alter rail, teak banister for the pulpit steps, new pews for chancel and nave, curtains and kneelers, a leather bound altar book and gifts of money.
During the earthquake of 1969 the arch of the chancel was cracked and cracks appeared in other places, but no serious damage was sustained. Many people describe this resilience to damage, despite the great age of the building, to the fact that masonry a hundred years ago was vastly different. from what it is today, with the binding matter containing more flexible properties than modern cement.
Proclaimed: 23 March 1979
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Construction Date: 1850
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Catalogue: Pistorius, 1986 (b), No: 04., Significance Category: