MOSSEL BAY NEWS - One of Mossel Bay's most attractive landmarks is St Peter's Anglican Church in Marsh Street.
The first rector of the Anglican community in Mossel Bay was the Reverend Thomas Sheard.
He and his wife Mary, both qualified English teachers, established a chapel and a small residence on the corner of Mitchell and Marsh streets in 1856.
In February the Mossel Bay Advertiser reported on the birthday of Valerie (Val) Murray, the great-great granddaughter of Sheard. She turned 96 on Valentine's Day.
During weekdays, the chapel was used as a schoolroom. Today, the chapel serves as a parish hall and the residence remains, although much enlarged. The site for the new church was donated by Mr JF Hudson in 1875.
St Peter's Church was designed by architect John Welchman and is built of local stone. Described as a warm corn-coloured stone, it gives a mellowness to the appearance of the church. The plan and each detail of the structure and ornament follow the Early English style. The walls are buttressed and the octagonal broach spire arises from a square tower. The spire is one of the very few stone spires in the country and is considered to be the tallest.
The nave, with the east end closed off at the chancel arch, was completed and consecrated in October 1879. Both the tall chancel arch and the stained glass windows over the altar repeat the pointed arch motif, while the nave has tall lancet windows.
The hammerbeam roof is supported by the curved brace, designed to transmit the weight and thrust of the steeply pitched roof. The roof was originally covered in Welsh Slate, brought out as ships ballast.
The chancel and spire were erected in 1906 and are of the finest workmanship of the stonemason's craft.
In 1996, the Church of St Peter was declared a national monument.
Prior to the national state of disasters declared in March 2020, St Peter's Church was open to the public for viewing and prayer.
An old photograph showing the interior of the church.
About Heritage Mossel Bay
Founded in 1980, Heritage Mossel is a society of voluntary members. The society strives to register, document, research, preserve and promote the rich heritage of Mossel Bay, which occupies a unique position in South Africa's history. It is registered in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, No 25 of 1999, as well as a Public Benefit Organisation. - Source: Facebook - Heritage Mossel Bay / Erfenis Mosselbaai-
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