The Paarl Dutch Reformed Congregation is the third oldest congregation in South Africa, with the oldest church building in the country that is used exclusively as a church.

The “Strooidakkerk” (literally : thatched roof church) congregation, as it is generally known, is an active, dynamic, spiritual congregation whose actions are dedicated to the glory of God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Holy Ghost who inspire us every day.

The vision of the congregation is : “We join together in the glory of the Holy Trinity, in support of one another and to bear witness in this world”.

The congregation uses various modern aids to convey the Glad Tidings in today’s continuously changing world.

History

When Louis X1V revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, freedom of worship in France was withdrawn and thousands of Protestants were compelled to flee their fatherland and seek a new home-country.  About 200 Huguenots soon settled in the Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Drakenstein (Paarl) areas, more or less during the last 12 years of the seventeenth century.

Permission was granted in 1691 for the Huguenots to have their own congregation.  Pierre Simond served as their minister until 1702.

The first church building in the parish was erected in 1694 near the farm “Babylonstoren” in the present-day Simondium-area.  The wintry weather of the Boland, however, proved too much for the building which became so dilapidated that it was demolished in 1717. The congregation commenced work immediately to erect a new church at a cost of about R4 000 on the same site as the present one.  Occupation took place in 1720.

At the end of the 18th century it became clear that this building was inadequate.  The well-known French-born engineer and architect Thibault was commissioned to design a new church.  His plans were shelved and in  1800 a certain Manhafte Küchler presented new plans which were accepted by the church council.

Designed in the form of a Greek cross, the interior is in simple style and the gables are regarded as being amongst the finest in our country.  The following striking motto is found on the western gable : “Sol justitiae illustra nos”, meaning “The Sun of Righteousness illuminates us”.

The Revend Serrurier of Cape Town delivered the inaugural address at the consecration of the new church building on 28 April 1805.

A loft was added in 1824, and in the same year galleries with pews were constructed in the northern and southern wings.  The rest of the church was provided with chairs.  In 1878 it was decided to replace the chairs with the pews presently in use.  In 1852 the building was enlarged by removing the wall between the church and the vestry.  A new vestry was added to the same wing.

State of the art electronic audio-visual equipment, in support of a dynamic present day congregation , was installed 1n 1994.