NG Kerk Swellendam
NG Kerk Swellendam
4.5
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An extremely popular and impressive stop for global visitors with a permanent exhibition and a rich history. Unique architectural mix in SA.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
98 reviews
Excellent
46
Very good
38
Average
11
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Ilona S
Sunnyvale, CA9 contributions
Jul 2022
The church is in the middle of town and we were just about to drive past it when we were attracted by the steeple and beautiful architecture. We went inside and were overcome by the grandeur of the interior and pipe organ. The church is known as The Mother church and has been central to the Dutch Reform movement for a couple of decades, A visit to the Old Drostdy ( Magistrate's homer and court) Is also so well worth it. I will stop and look and any Cape Dutch architecture I see!
Written 11 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
antongunter
Shropshire, UK77 contributions
Mar 2020
as part of our little day out we visited the church. they ask for a small donation which is fine, and there is a small area of historicsl interest under the stairs. The outside's beauty out ways the insides dull ness, but as i am lead to believe that the inside is for worshipping only, why does it have to be posh?
good half hour visit
good half hour visit
Written 19 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Piet14
Johannesburg, South Africa21 contributions
Sept 2012 • Friends
Every written South African Tour guide I’ve seen so far suggests you stop here and have a closer look at our beautiful and interesting church building. As soon as you see it you will know why! Its unique architectural mix is its first striking feature: It demonstrates Italian Baroque, French Gothic, an Eastern dome and Cape Dutch facades, with a replica of a Belgium wooden tower. Very South African!
Who can believe that this majestic building was erected for less than £ 10,000 from the year South Africa became a Union in 1910!
A wonderful book was published around the 200 year history of the church and its people in 1998. Written in Afrikaans and illustrated by Ds, Gert van Lill, it also covers Swellendam’s town history very well. Enquiries can be made at the church.
Visiting hours are on four weekdays only, from 8:00 to 13:00 and in the afternoons between 14:00 and 16:00. It is closed on weekends and on Thursdays.
Who can believe that this majestic building was erected for less than £ 10,000 from the year South Africa became a Union in 1910!
A wonderful book was published around the 200 year history of the church and its people in 1998. Written in Afrikaans and illustrated by Ds, Gert van Lill, it also covers Swellendam’s town history very well. Enquiries can be made at the church.
Visiting hours are on four weekdays only, from 8:00 to 13:00 and in the afternoons between 14:00 and 16:00. It is closed on weekends and on Thursdays.
Written 19 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tappers127
Cheltenham, UK161 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
looks great on the outside and was quite excited to go in .............. but its just like a court room - very disappointing !
Written 23 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
111TWIGAMINHAAFRIKA
Bristol, UK7 799 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
We were travelling from Wilderness to get to Hermanus and decided to break the journey for coffee and cake and to look at this historical church in Swellendam.
Plenty of easy and safe parking on the main street, we visited the wonderful Ikigai coffee bar before heading for this imposing church.
Beautiful to photograph in inviting light exteriorly, but once inside this became a magical and humble experience.
This is one of the oldest churches in the Cape and so significant to the early Dutch settlers. Beautiful visit and worth an hour of anybody's time.
Plenty of easy and safe parking on the main street, we visited the wonderful Ikigai coffee bar before heading for this imposing church.
Beautiful to photograph in inviting light exteriorly, but once inside this became a magical and humble experience.
This is one of the oldest churches in the Cape and so significant to the early Dutch settlers. Beautiful visit and worth an hour of anybody's time.
Written 23 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jill d
Port Elizabeth, South Africa2 417 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
What an amazing array of different architectural styles under one roof! Neo-Gothic windows, Cape Dutch gables, Byzantine minaret, Eastern Mediterranean cupola - all existing, cheek by jowl, in the same building. With such an eclectic mix of styles, one wonders what the architect's brief was... "Go to town!" or, "Do whatever you want!" As crazy as it may seem, its actually the white paint that brings it all together, for, without a doubt, this building is not only eye-catching, but impressive!
To the east of the main entrance,stands the only remnant of the original church built on this site, a section of archway and gate - this has been accorded National Monument status.
A walk through the immaculately kept gardens brings the visitor to the side entrance (also on the eastern side).The interior of the church is such a contrast to the outside of the building.. stark minimalism is the term that comes to mind. The concentric arrangement of the wooden pews is echoed in the beautiful semi-circular pattern of the organ pipes, creating a wonderful harmony of lines.
It is no surprise then, that most visitors to Swellendam make this church their first port of call - its quite unique!
To the east of the main entrance,stands the only remnant of the original church built on this site, a section of archway and gate - this has been accorded National Monument status.
A walk through the immaculately kept gardens brings the visitor to the side entrance (also on the eastern side).The interior of the church is such a contrast to the outside of the building.. stark minimalism is the term that comes to mind. The concentric arrangement of the wooden pews is echoed in the beautiful semi-circular pattern of the organ pipes, creating a wonderful harmony of lines.
It is no surprise then, that most visitors to Swellendam make this church their first port of call - its quite unique!
Written 20 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lu-Gerda d
Mossel Bay, South Africa242 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
This church is beautiful and huge. We visited it on a Saturday morning but unfortunately it was closed. (The church is open for visitors in the week but not Saturdays) We returned Saturday evening to take some wonderful photos of the church at sunset. And when the lights came on is was even prettier.
Sunday we attended the church service and afterwards we walked through the building and grounds with lots of white roses. The inside of the church is pretty with a beautiful organ. The old graves in the church ground were very interesting.
Sunday we attended the church service and afterwards we walked through the building and grounds with lots of white roses. The inside of the church is pretty with a beautiful organ. The old graves in the church ground were very interesting.
Written 28 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jet51160473081
1 contribution
Nov 2019
This Dutch Reform Church is definitely worth a visit. The original church on this site was built in 1802 and this building was erected in 1911. It is Cape Dutch in architectural style and very plain inside according to Dutch Refirm tradition. There are interesting gravestones in the beautifully kept gardens surrounding the church
Written 19 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
harold_vrieling
Doetinchem, The Netherlands12 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
It's a nice church but don't expect something spectacular on the inside. It's well maintained and that's it.
Written 13 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wolery
Johannesburg, South Africa513 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
This is a lovely church, magnificent and statuesque. However, please be aware that it is only open to the public during the week (tourism info did not tell me this), but you could go and visit on Sunday when they hold their services. I could not get into the grounds to look around as the gates were locked (this was as Saturday). If you have a good camera, this is a wonderful place to get some beautiful shots.
Written 16 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Althea S
Cape Town Central, South Africa
Is there an Anglican church in swellendam
Written 21 March 2019
Hi, sorry for the delay, I personally didn’t come across one. That’s not to say there isn’t one. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Mike
Written 25 March 2019
Sies on you Charles. No one can help that you are not into churches, and you only have to look at the ratings to see how out of line your opinion is! That church has got a very interesting history. There is an identical tower in Middelburg in Holland you know, since some Dutchman brought the drawings there off with him to Swellendam! The architecture alone is a great story. Did you know that that tower recently fell from a helicopter onto the roof of the church?! The story is on display there too. Was there no one there to make it interesting for you? Next time dig a bit, and don't be such a wet rag!
Written 24 May 2015
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