Groote Kerk | |
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Groote Kerk
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33°55′29″S 18°25′15″E / 33.9248°S 18.4209°ECoordinates: 33°55′29″S 18°25′15″E / 33.9248°S 18.4209°E | |
Location | Cape Town |
Country | South Africa |
Denomination | Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk |
History | |
Founded | 1841 |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Church |
The Groote Kerk (Afrikaans for "Great Church") is a Dutch Reformed church in Cape Town, South Africa. The church is South Africa's oldest place of worship, built by Herman Schuette in 1841. The first church on this land was built in 1678. Willem Adriaan van der Stel laid the cornerstone for the church. It was replaced by the present building in 1841, but the original tower was retained. The pulpit is the work of Anton Anreith and the carpenter Jacob Graaff, and was inaugurated on 29 November 1789. The Groote Kerk lays claim to housing South Africa's largest organ, which was installed in 1954 and has 5917 pipes.