Dutch Reformed Church, Montagu

The Dutch Reformed Church in Montagu is a congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Synod of the Western Cape. When it was founded in 1854, it was the 60th congregation of the church, but due to the merger of the congregations of Middelburg, Cape, and Middelburg-Uitsig, it is now (2015) the 59th oldest still existing congregation.

Background Around 1850 there were already so many members of the Swellendam congregation on the east side of Cogmanskloof in the Langeberge that it was decided to build a "Gesticht" for religious exercises on the farm Uitvlugt of D.S. van der Merwe.Olivier, ds. P.L. (samesteller), Ons gemeentelike feesalbum. Kaapstad en Pretoria: N.G. Kerk-uitgewers, 1952. With the laying of the cornerstone on 19 April 1851, Dr. William Robertson, minister of Swellendam, expressed the hope that this would be the beginning of a new congregation, which should be named after the then colonial secretary, Sir John Montagu. On 16 October 1854, the Presbytery in session at Caledon proceeded to the secession of the Montagu congregation, and on 30 September 1860 Dr. Servaas Hofmeyr was confirmed as the first minister by his brother, N.J. Hofmeyr, professor at the Seminary. With his confirmation, a blessed revival was already underway.

Ministers Dr. Servaas Hofmeyr, 30 September 1860 – 5 December 1888 George Stephanus Malan, 1889 – 1895 Johannes Christoffel Truter, 1896 – 1905 Daniël François Malan, 1906 – 1913 Daniel Petrus van Huyssteen, 1913 – 1937 Pieter Albertyn Alheit, 1922 – 1926 Frederick Rossouw Grobbelaar, 1930 – 1934 Daniel Johannes Louw, 1938 – 1946 Anthonie George Eliab van Velden, 1946 – 1951 Daniel Johannes Malan, 1947 – 1954 Frederic John Berning Malan, 1951 to 1960 (accepts her emeritus) Jaap Weideman Philippus Lodewikus Scholtz, 1964 – 1970. Leon Maree Steenkamp, 1967 - 1972 Jozua Van Der Lugt, 1977 - 1994 Dr. Jacobus Johannes De Jager, 1993 - 2016 Johannes Petrus Theron, 1995 – 2001 Charl van Rensburg, 2006 - 2019 J.A. Theron - April 2016 - Sep 2016 Dr Hannes Ries - present Rupert de Koning, 2021 – present

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