Dutch Reformed Church, Wynberg

{{Short description|Church in Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa}}

{{Orphan|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox church

| name = Dutch Reformed Church

| image = Wynbergkerk.jpg

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| coordinates = {{coord|34|0|16.8|S|18|27|44.4|E|type:landmark_region:ZA|display=title}}

| location = Cape Town

| country = South Africa

| denomination = Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk

| founded date = 1829

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| functional status = Church

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The Dutch Reformed Church in Wynberg[http://www.oldwynberg.co.za/church.htm 'n Webwerf oor die geskiedenis van Wynberg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831214654/http://www.oldwynberg.co.za/church.htm |date=31 Augustus 2011 }}. is the 20th oldest Dutch Reformed Church congregation in the former Cape Province and the third oldest in the Cape Town metropolitan area, after the Groote Kerk (1665) and the Durbanville Dutch Reformed Church congregation (1826). Dr. Abraham van der Merwe, then moderator of the Cape Church, described Wynberg in 1954 on the congregation's 125th anniversary as "the oldest suburban congregation in the Cape Church"; therefore also in the entire Dutch Reformed Church.Dreyer, eerw. A. 1929. Kerksouvenir van Wynberg. Kaapstad, Stellenbosch en Bloemfontein: Nasionale Pers, Beperk.

The congregation was founded on 20 September 1829 when the first religious service was held under the leadership of the consultant, Dr. Abraham Faure, on the farm De Onder Schuur, later the official residence Westbrooke (since 1995 officially Genadendal), at that time the property of Mr. Egbert Andries Buyskes. This historic residence is currently located within the boundaries of the Dutch Reformed congregation Rondebosch. The first chief justice of the Cape Colony, Sir John Truter, is considered the father and founder of the congregation. The first church building was consecrated on 30 September 1832 and 10 years later enlarged by the addition of two wings. The enlarged church building was demolished in 1897 to make way for the present church building, which was consecrated on 17 March 1899.Van der Merwe, dr. Gerdrie. 1991. Strome lewende water: Nederduitse Gereformeerde gemeente Kuruman 1916–1991. Kuruman: Kerkraad.{{in lang|af}} Küger, D.W. in Beyers, C.J. 1977. Suid-Afrikaanse Biografiese Woordeboek. Kaapstad: Tafelberg-uitgewers Bpk.

The first pastor was Rev. (later Dr.) Philip Eduard Faure, a brother of the consultant, who was confirmed on 7 December 1834.{{cite news | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2003/09/20/BS/1SK/01.html | title=Die Burger, Saterdag 20 September 2003, p. 1: Heldedaad: Wou buurvrou van rooftog red | archive-url=https://archive.is/20120701102338/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2003/09/20/BS/1SK/01.html | archive-date= 1 July 2012 | access-date=24 April 2010 | url-status=live }} He served the congregation until his death on 7 December 1882. After Dr. Faure's death, English services were introduced, but were abolished again in 1912. Members of the congregation helped establish at least two Afrikaans-medium schools within the congregation's boundaries, the Simon van der Stel Primary School and the Voortrekker High School, Kenilworth. Due to the changing demographics of the southern suburbs, the number of learners at Simon van der Stel, which remained Afrikaans, fell to below 200 in 2006 and stood at 182 (gr. 1 – 7) in 2016, the same as in 2010, while Voortrekker became a parallel medium in order to maintain its numbers and Afrikaans was gradually phased out.