CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT HELD IN SUPPORT OF THE . . . RESTORATION OF A MUCH-LOVED CHURCH

Writer: Liz Clarke

Filling the night air with joyous carols and honouring the cultural heritage of Stanford – what more could you ask for on the eve of a village’s Christmas festivities?

Paula Bouwer led her ‘Stanford Sings’ informal, social singing group in a selection of favourite Carols interspersed with the telling of the nativity story. But the community carols’ celebratory gathering in the Market Square – the first since Covid – had an extra special message, which chorister and heritage custodian, Keith Brown, shed some light on.

“The thatched roof of our beautiful old St Thomas Anglican Church – across the Stanford village common is in dire need of repair. Our concern is that if we don’t do the necessary repairs before the winter rainy season sets in, the roof won’t stand up to the weather conditions with much of the interior is at risk of being damaged.”

It was the unanimous decision of the singers and the Stanford Conservation Association that whatever money was collected during the evening would go to the Anglican Church roof repair fund.

In all, nearly R4 000 was raised, which everyone agreed was a great start to the campaign.

Church History

St Thomas Anglican Church proudly sits at the far end of the Stanford Village Green. It is the oldest church in Stanford and was built around 1880. The Moore family carved some of the pews and pulpit, and the material for the thatch roof came for the surrounding area. In 1892 the Bishop of Cape Town gave permission for weddings to be performed in the chapel. The small building next to the church served as the St Thomas Mission School. By 1914, the school had two classrooms and more space was needed. In 1939, the school was moved to the present site of Die Bron primary school in Stanford South.