Central Methodist Church, Cape Town

Central Methodist Church
Central Methodist Mission
The church from the north-east
33°55′22″S18°25′10″E / 33.9228°S 18.4195°E / -33.9228; 18.4195
Location	Burg Street, Greenmarket Square, Cape Town
Country	South Africa
Denomination	Methodist
History
Status	Church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	SAHRA identifier: 9/2/018/0125
Architect	Charles A.S. Freeman
Style	Decorated Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1876
Completed	12 November 1879
Construction cost	£17,700 (R5,000,000 in 2018) [1]
Clergy
Minister	Alan Storey

The Central Methodist Church, also known as the Central Methodist Mission or Metropolitan Methodist Church, is a large and historically important Methodist church located on Greenmarket Square in Cape Town, South Africa. The church has played a significant role in the growth of Methodism in South Africa. In 1988, the Metropolitan Church merged with Buitenkant Street Church, forming the Central Methodist Mission. ^[2]

History and activism

The church is known for its active advocacy efforts ^[3] such as its yellow banner campaign that seeks to rise awareness of important social issues and as a site of refuge. ^[4] The church windows were damaged by police water cannons during the anti-apartheid Purple Rain protest in 1989. In October 2019 the church was a refuge site for protesting refugees during the Greenmarket Square refugee sit-in. ^[5]

• Yellow banner campaign
• 
  A yellow banner on the church in remembrance of the Marikana massacre.
• 
  A yellow banner on the church criticizing the South African Arms Deal.
• 
  A yellow banner on the church celebrating Nelson Mandela.

Architecture

The church at the turn of the 20th century.

The church is the second oldest building on Greenmarket Square after the Old Town House located opposite it. Construction started in 1876 and completed on 12 November 1879 ^[6] at a cost of £17,700 (equivalent to R5,000,000in 2018). ^[2] The architect was Charles Freeman ^[6] and the building contractor was Thomas Inglesby. ^[7]

Representing high-Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, the basilica-type church features a distinctive lean-to roof and a tower with a spire. ^[6] It is a listed heritage building with the SAHRA identifier of 9/2/018/0125.

References

1. South Africa – Consumer price index, International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.^{[ dubious – discuss ]}
2. "A Brief History – Central Methodist Mission" . Retrieved 17 January 2024.
3. Daniels, Oliver (29 November 2023). "A Beacon of Activism in Cape Town: Central Methodist Church". Cape Town Today. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
4. Hirsch, Matthew (28 November 2023). "Much-loved pastor bows out from Central Methodist Church". GroundUp News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
5. Damons, Marecia (13 March 2020). "Central Methodist Church seeks advice over removal of refugees". GroundUp News. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
6. "Metropolitan Methodist Church details". artefacts.co.za. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
7. Walker, Michael (2012). The early architects of Cape Town : and their buildings (1820-1926), with postcard illustrations. St. James, South Africa: Michael Walker. p. 132. ISBN   978-0-620-55120-5. OCLC   829793158.