Fundraising

Just over two years ago a campaign was initiated to raise the necessary R2m to save the Church of the Good Shepherd – Protea, opposite the main entrance to Kirstenbosch, from literally falling down. The church was built in the 1880’s by the faithful members of Protea Village with stones from the neighbouring Liesbeek River. After 120 years the walls, which had no foundations, were no longer able to support the weight of the roof and, in spite of a number of ‘patch up’ jobs over the years, the building was in danger of being condemned. Adding to the urgency of tackling the challenge was the fact that the dispossessed residents of Protea Village have lodged a successful Land’s Claim and will be returning in due course to live on the neighbouring land. The new church will therefore be ready to welcome their arrival and give them an enlarged spiritual home upon their return.

Through the generosity of the congregation and other interested parties, the necessary funds were raised to enable the re-building programme to commence in January of this year. The new church, which has retained the look and feel of the original, is approximately two meters wider. The vestry has been enlarged and, in addition, an enclosed porch has been added. A new organ has also been installed.
Although the re-building programme is still ‘work in progress’ the doors were re-opened for services on Sunday 27th June. There are two regular services held in the church each week. A said Eucharist is held on Friday mornings at 09h00, and a sung Eucharist is held every Sunday at 09h00. Visitors are made very welcome, especially as the congregation enjoys tea/coffee and cakes under the oaks outside the church after the Sunday Eucharist.

The consecration of the new part of the church is being planned for Sunday 21st November 2010, at which The Rt Revd Garth Counsell, Bishop of Table Bay, will be celebrant and preacher. We are hoping that many who have helped us to achieve our goal will join us at this service as we celebrate God’s faithfulness.

Fundraising however is on-going and, although we were able to fund the re-building of the church, we still need to re-furbish the inside as well as cover the full costs of the new organ. At the outset of our fundraising campaign we also undertook to tithe ten percent of the monies raised so that we can support other worthy causes in the future.
Donations can be sent to: