| DETAILED CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY |
| 1832 |
30 August: Governor Sir Lowry Cole grants a piece of government land for the building of the
Rondebosch Chapel.
5 September: Bishop Daniel Wilson of Calcutta consecrates the site; burials probably
started; building of the Michell-designed chapel begins, financed by subscription and shares.
|
Chapel at Rondebosch - designed by Michell
from the cover of "The Life and Works of Charles Michell" by Gordon Richings
(Fernwood Press: Simon's Town, 2006) |
| 1834 |
16 February: Sir Benjamin D'Urban officially opens the Rondebosch Chapel, which is administered
by Trustees who institute the 'pew rent' system. First Chaplains: Holt Okes (MA Cam) and Edward Judge
(MA) share responsibility with Wynberg. |
| 1839 |
Judge moves to Simon's Town; Holt Okes and John Fry (BA, RN retd) share responsibility with Wynberg. |
| 1843 |
Free Mission School operating on the Rondebosch Chapel site. John Fry is appointed second chaplain
and sole incumbent. |
| 1845 |
Ordinance N 5 officially names Rondebosch Chapel as St Paul's Church. The Ordinance also relieves the
trustees of their responsibilities and establishes an elected 'vestry' led by two church wardens and two
auditors. A gallery is added to Michell's building. |
| 1848 |
Robert Gray arrives as first Bishop of Cape Town. His wife, Sophia (Sophy); designs a new church to
replace Michell's chapel. |
| 1850 |
Building begins to the geographic north of the chapel which remains as chancel, as only the nave is
completed. |
| 1854 |
Bishop Gray acquires glebe land which includes Rondebosch Camp Ground (now Rondebosch Common), Park Estate
and more. He presents these to St Paul's. The cemetery is closed to further purchase of plots. |
| 1861 |
October 25: John Fry dies at sea while on sick leave: |
| 1863 |
John Thomas (MA) becomes incumbent and takes the title 'rector'. He is appointed Archdeacon of Cape Town. |
| 1864 |
Camp Ground Mission School Chapel (later St Thomas's) is designed by Sophy Gray and building commences.
Black River Mission on Strathallan Road in Park Estate is started. |
| 1865 |
Camp Ground Mission School Chapel opens: a porch on the east facade of the nave is erected to the
memory of John Fry and his wife. |
| 1868 |
Thomas returns to England. |
| 1869 |
Hopkins Badnall (DD) assumes duty as rector ofSt Paul's and Archdeacon of Cape Town. St Paul's Choir
is initiated. Badnall plays a key role in compiling the constitution for the Church of the Province of
South Africa |
Archdeacon Hopkins Badnall
from the BADNALL family Web site. |
| 1872 |
The Church of the Province of Southern Africa is established. |
| 1874 |
A cemetery is established near the Camp Ground Chapel. It was de-consecrated in 1970 and sold to the Diocesan College. |
| 1875 |
The single-bell belfry that exists today is erected. some early illustrations show a three bell
belfry but these are incorrect. |
Lithograph of Church by A Schaller showing incorrect three bell turret
in possession of the St Paul's Church |
| 1880 |
Work begins on William White's design to complete the work begun by Sophy Gray; the Michell chapel/chancel
is demolished. |
| 1884 |
White's extensions are completed, comprising two transepts, a choir, sanctuary, Lady Chapel, priest's
vestry and organ vestibule. The Willis organ is installed. |
| 1885 |
Badnall, mastermind behind the handsome building that is now St Paul's, retires to England, Canon George
Ogilvie (DLitt) is appointed rector and pays particular attention to the mission schools |
| 1894 |
St Paul's Rugby Club founded. |
| 1902 |
Ogilvie retires as rector and his curate, Alfred Rendle accepts, the incumbency. He continues the interest
in schools and starts a new mission in Milner (now Athlone). |
| 1903 |
Camp Ground Mission Chapel is enlarged and dedicated to St Thomas. |
| 1904 |
St Paul's stages the official opening of the Milner Mission Chapel, Rondebosch Parish gets its first
dedicated rectory, designed by Sir Herbert Baker and built at enormous cost ( 6 800). A new brick chapel
is built for the Black River Mission. Ladies (out of sight of the congregation!) augment the boys' choir.
The church magazine St Paul's Record is launched, edited and managed by Ossie Hogarth. |
Cover of 1907 St Paul's Record showing the different chapels.
St Marks, Milner (L) St James, Black River (R)
St Paul's (Top), St Thomas (Bottom) |
| 1905 |
Black River Chapel is officially opened as St James' Church. Rendle resigns unexpectedly, Robert Douglas (MA)
is instituted as rector on Christmas Eve. |
| 1907 |
Cape government declares Camp Ground cemetery closed. |
| 1909 |
A new stained glass window, from the bequest of George Nicholls, is erected above the reredos in
the sanctuary and four panels from the former east window are moved to the north wall of the Lady Chapel.
23 May: St Paul's is consecrated by Archbishop William Carter and the administrative 'vestry'
is replaced by an elected council. Rondebosch Parish transfers most of the glebe land to the
municipality. |
| 1911 |
Douglas retires, but remains in office until 31 August. John Brooke (MA Oxon) is installed as first
South African-born rector. [Later Dean of Cape Town] |
| 1914 |
St Paul's pre-empts Provincial Synod's enfranchisement of women for parish purposes. Brooke is detailed
as chaplain to the S A Expeditionary Force in Walvis Bay (South West Africa) at the start of World War I. |
| 1917 |
St Paul's grants 99-year lease of property to the City Council for the widening of Main Road. |
| 1917 |
The parish opens a mission in Rylands Estate. |
| 1921 |
A memorial is erected to honour those men in the district who fell during World War I |
War Memorial
Photo: Chris Rainer-Pope |
| 1923 |
The first Parish Hall is opened near St Thomas's Church. |
| 1925 |
Brooke moves to St Aidan's in Yeoville. Canon William Webster (MA Lond) replaces him as rector.
Rustenburg Cottage is bought to house a curate. The mission churches in Black River, Athlone and Rylands
obtain separate district status within the parish. |
| 1928 |
The first rectory is sold for half its cost-price. |
| 1930 |
A second rectory is built near St Thomas's. |
| 1934 |
Centenary celebrations take place, including erection and dedication of the Lych Gate.
A planned choir vestry is not built for lack of funds. |
| 1935 |
Jodrell Day is appointed curate to serve young congregants, especially UCT students, (
See History of UCT Chaplaincy) St Paul's Boys' Club for 'disadvantaged' youths
is initiated by Robin Cullis and others. |
| 1936 |
The choir vestry is completed and dedicated. |
| 1937 |
St Paul's Guild of St Mary is founded. |
| 1939 |
William Gregorowski arrives from England as curate. Final edition of St Paul's Record. |
| 1940 |
Ethel Jones is elected first lady church councillor. |
| 1941 |
St Paul's School is modified to meet Cape Education Department requirements. |
| 1945 |
Athlone District Churches become an independent parish. |
| 1947 |
The remnant of Rondebosch Parish (ie: St Paul's and St Thomas's) become separate parishes. Webster retains
rectorship of St Thomas's, which acquires the adjacent rectory. Charles Runge becomes first rector
of St Paul's and moves into the new rectory in Roslyn Road.
Geoffrey Tiarks is chaplain aboard HMS Vanguard, which brings the Royal Family to Cape Town |
| 1948 |
The newly elected Nationalist government legalises racial discrimination. |
| 1950 |
Runge resigns. Geoffrey Tiacks (MA. RN retd) succeeds him. |
| 1952 |
St Paul's School closes; the building is developed as a parish hall. |
| 1954 |
Tiarks leaves; Canon Jack Weatherstone (MA,) succeeds him as rector. |
| 1961 |
The Group Areas Act is passed. |
| 1962 |
Weatherstone moves to the Eastern Cape and the second South African-born rector, Canon Harold
Halvorson (LTh), is appointed. He discourages non-white parishioners from attending St Paul's in 1964. The organ and choir are moved to a new gallery at the 'west' end; a new porch and vestibule extend the nave. The entrance to the Lady Chapel is moved to the 'south' end of the main transept and the new door dedicated to those who fell in World War II. |
| 1974 |
Halvorson retires. |
| 1976 |
Third South African-born rector, Louis Bank (BSc BA BD), is appointed rector. He motivates for the return
of non-white congregants to St Paul's. |
| 1988 |
Bank (now Canon) moves to Stellenbosch. |
| 1989 |
Robert (Bob) Commin (BA (Hons) BTh) returns from England to become the fourth South African-born rector at
St Paul's. The parish becomes increasingly representative of the community it serves. |
| 1997 |
Wilma Jakobsen (BSc HDipEd MDiv STM) is appointed University Chaplain and becomes the first woman priest
attached to St Paul's. |
The Rev. Wilma Jakobsen |
| 2000 |
Luke Stubbs (PhD) appointed rector. |
| 2004 |
Luke Stubbs resigns and Louis Bank become intentional interim minister. |
| 2005 |
Derek Pratt (BA, MTh) appointed rector.
Christopher Swartz (DipTh) appointed Chaplain to UCT. |
| 2012 |
Christopher Swartz resigns. |
| 2013 |
Matt Esau appointed Chaplain to UCT. |
| 2015 |
Darron Misplon appointed Assistant Priest. |
| 2016 |
Derek Pratt retires. |
