Abraham Isaac Steytler

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Pulpit of the Groote Kerk. 9-2-018-0106 Grootte Kerk Adderley street Cape Town (2).JPG
Pulpit of the Groote Kerk.

Abraham Isaac Steytler (5 February 1840 - 17 December 1922) was a minister of the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in South Africa. He was dubbed the "Nederduitse Gereformeerde Pous" ("Dutch Reformed Pope") due to his great influence.

Minister (Christianity) religious occupation in Christianity

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South Africa Republic in the southernmost part of Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline of Southern Africa stretching along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland); and it surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho. South Africa is the largest country in Southern Africa and the 25th-largest country in the world by land area and, with over 57 million people, is the world's 24th-most populous nation. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World or the Eastern Hemisphere. About 80 percent of South Africans are of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different African languages, nine of which have official status. The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of European (White), Asian (Indian), and multiracial (Coloured) ancestry.

Biography

Steytler was born in Sea Point, a suburb of Cape Town in 1840, and attended the school of renowned Dr Changuion, after which he went to England and the Netherlands and returned with a degree in theology from the University of Utrecht. He became a preacher in the Uitenhage NG Church in 1863. The town of Steytlerville was founded after members were cut off from his congregation.

Sea Point Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Sea Point is one of Cape Town's most affluent and densely populated suburbs, situated between Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean, a few kilometres to the west of Cape Town's Central Business District (CBD). Moving from Sea Point to the CBD, one passes through first the small suburb of Three Anchor Bay, then Green Point. Seaward from Green Point is the area known as Mouille Point, where the local lighthouse is situated. It is neighboured to the southwest by the suburb of Bantry Bay.

Cape Town Capital city of the Western Cape province and legislative capital of South Africa

Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa, colloquially named the Mother City. It is the legislative capital of South Africa and primate city of the Western Cape province. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.

England Country in north-west Europe, part of the United Kingdom

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to the west and Scotland to the north-northwest. The Irish Sea lies west of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. The country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain, which lies in the North Atlantic, and includes over 100 smaller islands, such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

He was called to Cape Town (Groote Kerk, Cape Town) in 1881, where he stayed for the remainder of his career. He was also Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church. He retired in October 1915 and died on 17 December 1922. [1]

Groote Kerk, Cape Town Church in Cape Town, South Africa

The Groote Kerk is a Dutch Reformed church in Cape Town, South Africa. The church is South Africa's oldest place of Christian worship, built by Herman Schuette in 1841. The first church on this land was built in 1678. Willem Adriaan van der Stel laid the cornerstone for the church. It was replaced by the present building in 1841, but the original tower was retained. The pulpit is the work of Anton Anreith and the carpenter Jacob Graaff, and was inaugurated on 29 November 1789. The Groote Kerk lays claim to housing South Africa's largest organ, which was installed in 1954 and has 5917 pipes.

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References

  1. Rosenthal, Eric. 1978. Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Cape Town and Johannesburg: Juta and Company Limited