Bothaville is a small town in the North-West Free State. It is known as the maize capital because it is surrounded by endless maize fields. The skyline is dominated by numerous silos feeding the maize processing industry as well as the tower of the main church, the Dutch Reformed Church or in short NG church (from the Afrikaans name Nederduits Gereformeerte Kerk).
What is so special about this church building that I want to write an article about it? The answer to this question is that it was Gerard Moerdijk's first church, designed at the start of his career as an architect.
The Church
A bit of history about the congregation. Members of the NG church living in the area applied to be ceded from the Kroonstad congregation and this was granted in 1891. The first church was built the same year. This was also the beginning of the town Bothaville. With a growing population and membership it became necessary to construct a new church which is the building described here.
Gerard Moerdijk, best known as the architect who designed the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, was born 1890 in Nylstroom, a son of Dutch immigrant family. As a young man he worked for the Public Works Department as a junior draughtsman. He spent a number of years in London studying to become an architect. Coming back to South Africa he joined the...
