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History: St. Mary’s Church stands on the corner of the Braak opposite the Drostdy Hotel. This quaint church with its thatched roof has in effect become a part of the history of the Braak and, like the Rhenish Church and the Powder Magazine, makes a notable contribution to its character.
Even during the first British occupation of the Cape it was felt that the spiritual needs of the British troops and officials in Stellenbosch who belonged to the Anglican Church should be provided for, and services were in fact held for them from time to time. After the Cape became a British possession permanently in 1806, the membership gradually increased. In the 1830’s needy English children were brought out to the Cape as immigrants, many of whom went to work in Stellenbosch or for farmers in the district. An Anglican priest of the Children’s Friendly Society worked amongst them from 1838 to 1840.
However, because there were so few adherents, it was not until 1843 that a congregation of the Anglican Church was established in Stellenbosch. On the recommendation of the Governor, the British government authorised the formation of a congregation and a grant to maintain a priest. The Rev. Frederick Carlyon, M.A., became the first Minister. He arrived from England during December, 1849, and was officially appointed to Stellenbosch on 11th January, 1850.
Mr. Carlyon’s first services were apparently held in a schoolroom. He soon made plans for building a church. Negotiations were opened with the government for a piece of land “being part of Adderley Square” (now The Braak) measuring 594,2 m as the site for the erection of an English Episcopal Church. The government transferred the land officially on 15th November, 1851, but meanwhile a start had already been made with collecting funds for the church.
On 30th September, 1851, a contract to build the church was signed in Cape Town with W. Martin, a carpenter and builder, and on 22nd December of the same year William Shrugg, a mason of Cape Town, contracted to do certain work on the building. Among others, the government and several church associations in England contributed to the building fund, and a loan of R500 was obtained from the Trustees of the “Guardian Fund”. In the end the building cost R1 415.
The church was completed during 1852 and officially opened on 28th December of that year. It was dedicated to St. Mary and inaugurated by Bishop Gray of Cape Town on 18th October, 1854.
The church was originally smaller than it is now. It was 15 metres long and was square at the eastern end. It was built of lime-plastered brick and had a thatched roof, which is still the case.
The first meeting of the Church Council took place on 23rd August, 1852, when the well-known Robert J. Crozier (then Chief Clerk of the Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate - of Stellenbosch) and George Blatchford were elected as churchwardens.
In 1882 it was decided to enlarge the church. A com mittee was appointed for the purpose and building commenced in 1884. The nave was built out slightly in a westerly direction to its present extent, the bell-tower was built on the western wall and a small entrance was added on the south side. The work which cost about Ri 200, was completed in February, 1885, and the church was re-opened on the twelfth of that month.
Further alterations were carried out in 1898. The church was lengthened to the east, the eastern wall was replaced by the present semicircular one. The glass of the three original windows in the west wall was replaced in the new wall. The little organ-room was added and the harmonium was replaced by a small pipe organ.
This work was completed in 1898 at a cost of R1 860. The organ was replaced by the present one some years later.
The church was once again enlarged a few years ago: a small addition was built out on the north of the front part of the nave but the roof structure remained unaltered.
Several well-known Stellenbosch families like the Croziers, the Merrimans and the MacKenzies played a prominent part in the history of the Church.
Proclaimed 1966"
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