History

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Our flag

The Chi-rho symbol represents Christ and the crown and gold pales His kingship. The centre pale is murrey, a reddish-purple colour used for royalty. Red and gold represent Christ's royal dignity and are also heraldic colours of Witbank.

Formally the blazon heraldry of the Cl42 flag is described as follows: 

Or, on a pale murrey, a chi-rho ensigned of a crown, or.

Christ the King

THE HISTORY OF THE COMING OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

TO WITBANK AND THE INCIDENTS RELATED THERETO

 

(By May Barry - Written in 1960 and the last piece by an unknown hand)

 

We came to Witbank on Christmas Eve 1904 and did not see a catholic Priest until March 1906. My Father wrote to Pretoria for a Priest to Baptise my Baby Sister Ann (Barry) Willox. The late Father Kempf, a German Oblate came. He stayed with us, said Mass in our Sitting Room and Baptised the Baby after Mass. Present at that First Mass were – The late Mr. McKenna (SNR), his 14 year old son, the late Dick McKenna, Mr. and Mrs. O’Neil (the baby’s God Parents), Mr. and Mrs. Donnelley, an Irish Police Sergeant, whose name I have forgotten as he left Witbank shortly afterwards, my Parents the late Mr. and Mrs. C. Barry, my brother the late Jack Barry, then 2 years old and myself.

           

          Father Kempf was later appointed traveling Priest. He paid irregular visits at intervals of 6 to 9 months. He Baptised an O’Neill Baby girl late in 1906 and my Sister Nell (Barry) Moore in July 1907. I was her God Mother and Dick McKenna her God Father. My Mother was the only Catholic Woman in Witbank at that time. The O’Neills had returned to Ireland and the Donnelleys had gone to a new Town on the Rand BENONI.

          I remember ONE Mass between July 1907 and October 1908 when Father Kempf baptized my Brother the late Cornelius Barry. It seemed odd to me that no Baby was Baptised. As a Child I thought that the Mass was part of the Baptisimal Service.

          At the Mass when my brother was baptized in 1908 (October) there were more people present. Mr. Louie Marratt, a Frenchman, Mrs. Stobey a Teacher (the God Parents), the stay of both in Witbank was of short duration. A young Hollander Lady, married to a Non-Catholic Railwayman, still Mr. McKenna and Dick and a Newcomer and an Irish Railwayman, Mr. William Salmon who remained in Witbank until he retired on Pension in 1933.

          Father Kempf’s irregular visits continued until 1912. He Baptised another little Sister of mine in January 1911. My Father had to conduct the Burial Service himself when she died in April 1911. Her Grave was the first in the Catholic Portion of the NEW Cemetery and was the only one for many years.

          Father Kempf always stayed with us and said Mass in our Sitting Room until 1911.

Our Family had grown, accommodation was limited and our Congregation, always a “Floating” one had outgrown our Sitting Room. At this stage my Father made arrangement for Father Kempf to Stay at the Carlton Hotel, (Just along the one and only Street, old Main Street, then called Church Street), from our Home, as his Guest.

          The Proprietor, the late Mr. Hamilton Ker, an Irish Australian ANGLICAN, kindly offered a larger and more suitable Room in the Hotel for Mass.

In February 1913 my Brother Eugene Barry was born and the late Father Urquahart O.M.I., came from Pretoria to Baptise him. Father Kempf had been appointed Parish Priest at the New Parish in Benoni. Father Urquahart stayed at the Carlton Hotel, as my Father’s guest and said Mass there. I remember him VERY distinctly because he made a FEARFUL FUSS on account of our family and two other Catholic Children (O’Sheas) attending the Church of England Sunday School. I had attended the Methodist (then called Wesleyan) Sunday School from 1905 – 1910. The first Methodist Minister, Mr. Whitehouse and the second Mr. Hudson, lived at the back of the little Wesleyan Church and had their Meals with us. They were our nearest Neighbours. Shortly after Mr. Hudson left the little “TIN” Church of England arrived in Witbank, it had been Transported from the old Military Camp of Boer War Days in Middelburg. Mr. Russell the first Vicar had been a School Teacher in Belfast when we lived there, so we went to the New English Sunday School. Father Kempf was a genial little pioneer and was EVERYBODY’S Friend. As far as I know, he never protested about our Sunday School Activities. Witbank was a “HEATHENISH” place then and my father said that going to Sunday School would do us no harm as we had no Church of our own to go to. EVERY child in the little village went to Sunday School, except the few Jewish Children.

         

Our next Travelling Priest was Father Louis Peron O.M.I. 1913. My father went to the Station, as he always did to meet the Priest – It was only a Stone’s Throw from our home. The present old Railway Bridge led right from the Platform to the Carlton Hotel Grounds – The Station has since been demolished. Father Peron in 1913 looked like a “PRETTY” School Boy. He had a Round Child-like Face and THE most perfect complexion. Cheeks like ROSY apples and huge Brown Eyes. My Father took him to the Hotel and left him there. He always brought the others Home to Lunch. He came home, most indignant, protesting long and eloquently about the EXTREMELY youthful Priest that had been sent… he added…. “He cannot speak English and it is almost impossible to understand him, I cannot think what the Catholic Church is coming to.”  My Father then turned to me and said “You can take him around the village and show him where all the Catholics live. I am not going with him”. (I think Father Peron’s STRIKING “beauty” antagonized my Father). I took Father Peron around. I was much taller than he was. He made a MUCH better impression on me than he did on my Father – a sort of intuition seemed to tell me that there was a strong force in that “small” person, despite the fact that it was MOST difficult to understand what he was talking about. Father Peron made a good impression on my Mother too. Mother’s impression turned out to be right in the years ahead. Father Peron was always the MOST wonderful friend to all in Trouble.

          In the course of our Wandering around the Village that Saturday afternoon we met the Head Master of our School, the late Mr, Robert Carruthers, a Liverpool Irishman, reputed to be a “retired” Catholic, we never found out if this was true. Mr. Carruthers asked us where we had Mass. I told him at the Carlton Hotel. He replied – “I do not think that is a very suitable place, would you like the use of the School. One of the Class Rooms could be used for the Service and my Office for interviews, Confessions etc. Come and see me to-morrow Father and we will discuss it”. Our School was the Red Brick Building in Kruger street, opposite the Jewish Hall and Synagogue. It now stands unused. It was the Biggest and only good, well built building in Witbank at that time. We had no streets, just DUST tracks, at all angles around the Village. A Huddle of Houses around the School, all wood and iron, some Brick lined and a few scattered around the veld Below. Rhodes Street terminated the Residential area, The old Witbank Colliery houses at the back of the Hospital, later the Homestead (now demolished) looked on to the Sports ground of the Village. Around old Main Street there were more Huddles of Wood and Iron Houses and over the Railway Bridge, behinf the Station there were two rows of Railway Houses. One Row WOODEN and one row Brick. Middelburg Steam (Navigation) Colliery and Coronation Collierys were situated to the left of present “Old Coronation” their dumps still stand there, Tavistock was about a mile or so out along the railway line beyond the NEW Station. That was the Witbank Father Peron came to in 1913. I took him everywhere, except Tavistock and T. & D.B. All that is left of the old T. & D.B. is still in the same place. All traces of the other “Outside Mines”, except the Dumps have gone. The road to T. & D.B. was just a “DUST” track through the Veld. MUD in Rainy weather. Few people had Transport. A little Van was attached to the Mine  Engine to take people to Witbank for Shopping on Saturdays. The only Church in Witbank 1905 to 1910 was the Methodist Church. The minister went there on a bicycle…… The chief mode of Transport then…. The Anglican Padre came in 1910. He rode there on horseback. …… I took Father Peron to all the Catholics we could WALK to. We set out at 2 p.m. and returned at 6 p.m. Our visits were brief as it was difficult to converse with him.

On Monday morning at School Mr. Carruthers told us that he had an interesting experience on Sunday afternoon. A VERY young Catholic French Priest had called on him and gave him a wonderful opportunity to “polish up” his Latin. He continued “We simply could not understand each others English. We had a Cup of Coffee, but that did not help us to understand each other any better ----- Then ---- I had a bright idea. I did catch that in his Seminary days they often spoke Latin, so --- with a Latin Dictionary on my lap, we carried on a Conversation, quite pleasantly--- in LATIN”

When Father Peron came to Witbank, our Congregation, at all times a Mobile one, had grown. I will digress here to mention the Catholics of those days, who ANCHORED here.

The late Mr. McKenna (SENIOR) came to the T. & D.B. MINE before the Boer War. He had a wife and 8 Children in England. In 1904 two of his daughters came out to visit him. He often told the Story in later years. They were his eldest daughter Rose McKenna (who in 1911 became Rose Horsfall) aged 21 and his youngest daughter Cissy McKenna (who many years later became Cissy Graham) aged 7. He had never seen Cissy as she was born after he came to South Africa. They stayed with him about 7 months and Mr. McKenna took them back to England with him when he went on Long Leave at the end of that year. When he returned he brought back his 2^nd eldest son (then about 14 yrs old), the kate Dick McKenna. Dick McKenna and Ann (Barry) Willox are the longest Residential Catholics in Witbank, as neither ever left Witbank. Rose McKenna returned between 1909 and 1910. She married Mr. Horsfall in 1911. Mrs. McKenna, Senior came out to South Africa in 1912. She brought her two youngest children with her. Cissy, who about 8 years later married Alexander Graham and ALF McKenna. JOHN, who had tried to enter a Religious Order came out a few years later, followed by JOE McKenna, Joe had a wife and a little daughter MARY, in England. JIM McKenna, who had tried to become a Priest (Douai) came out last of all (I was away at Boarding School in Natal so I am not quite sure of the date). Old Mr. McKenna died in 1914.

About 1912 two very popular Brothers came to the T. & D.B. from England. (They both sang well and took part in all Local Concerts etc.). They brought their Catholic Wives with them. They were the late BILL Gerrard and the Late PETER Gerrard. Peter’s wife was a DEVOUT Catholic. Bill’s wife (Our Mrs. Gerrard) was a “Retired” Catholic until her Husband’s death in 1926. After her Husband’s Death she returned to the Church and brought her little son (Our “Parish” Peter) with her. Her grown up daughter Winnie was about to become engaged to a Presbyterian Minister’s son, Leonard Robertson, so she remained a  LOYAL Anglican. Winnie had NEVER been a Catholic.

The late Mr. Joe Lamb came to Witbank in 1910 – A “Retired” Catholic until his War-Time marriage in 1918 to a devout Anglican Convert to the Faith, Margaret Lamb who later played such a Prominent part in bringing the Catholic Church to Witbank.

A Talented Pianist and Singer Miss. Lizzie Smith came about 1911. She married Mr. Hamlin several years later, Through the years they were “in & out” of the Church. They finally joined the Anglican Church where Mrs. Hamlin has been Organist for the last 25years. Mrs. Hamlin became a Catholic as a School Girl at Marist Stella Convent. Miss Mary Tiernay cam to Witbank about this time. She came from the same place in Enland as the McKenna Family, CLEARER MOOR in Cumberland. – A few years later she married Mr. BALLENDEN. Two Irish Railway-men, Mr. William SALMON and Mr. Ambrose BURKE arrived in Witbank during this time. Both stayed in Witbank until they retired on Pension, Mr. O’SHAUGNESSY came shortly afterwards. He was always a most generous supporter of the Church. He stayed until he retired in the late 1930’s. The other Catholics during Father Peron’s time were very Temporary ones.

Father Peron departed by the Mid-day on Monday. The visiting Priest always arrived on Saturday Mid-day and left on Monday mid-day …. That was usually the last we saw of our Travelling Priest for at least three months or often a good deal longer. Within a MONTH Father Peron surprised us all by writing to say that he was coming again the following week and that Mass would be in the School. My Father’s reaction was “They do not know what to do with that little Man in Pretoria so they are sending him down here out of their way” ----- In later years when we proudly related Father Peron’s achievements during the Hey Day of his Priestl;y Career to my Father, he said – “He was in His Infancy when he came to Witbank.” ------ Father Peron duly arrived, with a good supply of Prayer Books, New Testaments, Rosaries etc. He gave me the FIRST Rosary I ever owned. He announced that he  would be paying MONTHLY Visits to Witbank ….. Despite the Language Handicap his first visit made him realize that they were necessary. On his Second visit he arranged for a Mr. Sandham to take THREE of us for instruction in preparation for our First Holy Communion. We were Eileen Tiernay, about my age who was Mrs. Sandham’s Sister, Dorothy O’Shea and myself. The instructions were arranged for Sunday afternoon ……… so that made it impossible for Dorothy and me to attend the Church of England Sunday School. Eileen was a newcomer and a member of a wellknown Cathilic Family in Kimberley….. She had never attended Sunday School. Dorothy left Witbank before we had finished our Instructions. Eileen and I made our First Holy Communion in the Carlton Hotel. Extensions were being made at the School and we were back in the Hotel for a while. We Were the first two children to make our First Holy Communion in Witbank and the LAST for a VERY long time…….. Until Father Klassert came in 1924. An INCREDIBLE, but TRUE FACT about my First Holy Communion was ---- I did not know anything about the REAL PRESENCE. My Catholic instruction had been BAD ( I do not think that Father Peron realized this) I had never been inside a Catholic Church since I had left Ireland, as a child of 3 years of age. My Anglican Instruction had been VERY GOOD. Mr. Russell our Anglican Padre had been a Teacher and remained a VERY GOOD Teacher. I relate this incident because it had FAR REACHING  consequences on the History of the Catholic Church in Witbank. In passing I will relate the outcome here. I went to School at St. Dominic’s Academy Newcastle in 1916 and learned about the REAL PRESENCE for the first time while being prepared for Confirmation. I was SO ASTOUNDED when I discovered that I had missed the MOST BEAUTIFUL and HELPFUL part of the Catholic Faith. I told Mother Prioress, who was instructing me that when I left School I was going to try to get a Catholic Church in Witbank, as I might save others from MY unfortunate experience.

Father Peron paid Monthly visits. He ALWAYS stayed at the Carlton Hotel and Said Mass at the School or the Carlton Hotel.

In 1914 Father de Hovre, a Belgium O.M.I. replaced Father Peron as Travelling Priest. He spoke little English, but HIS English was easier to understand than Father Peron’s. Father de Hovre stayed at the Carlton Hotel and said Mass at the School. He never liked visiting people. He was a keen Musician and usually wandered along to our Home on Sunday afternoon, when we went out for a Drive, (Cart abd Horse) and stayed there all afternoon Playing the Piano, Singing and Sleeping. He had the Sitting Room allto Himself and he would Play, sing and sleep in turn. He Composed a Mass and Wrote several Religious Pamphlets. He never paid a visit unless he HAD to. He had supper with us when we returned on Sunday evenings. He LOVED Pretoria and disliked Witbank. He gave us glowing descriptionsof BEAUTIFUL Pretoria with the water running along the Streets in furrows and all the beautiful flowers and trees there. He was a VERY HOLY man and the Mining Camp atmosphere in Witbank in those days was very distasteful to him. Father de Hovre’s irregular visits continued until 1915, World War 1 dragged on, many Priests had enlisted as Army Chaplains, there was an ACUTE shortage of Priests and so Father de Hovre’s visits gradually ceased.

I was at School in Newcastle in 1918 when Father Creagh C.SS.R, Rector of the fairly New Redemptorist Monastary in Pretoria came to give a Retreat. I told him that we had not seen a Catholic Priest in Witbank for a very long time. He asked me where Witbank was. I told Him. About two Months later my Father wrote and told me that at long last a Priest had visited Witbank. An English Redemtorist , Father Lee KIRK. Father Kirk became visiting Priest for the Eastern Transvaal for over 3 years. He ALWAYS stayed at the Carlton Hotel. He said Mass at the School in the beginning. He had leg trouble and found the walk to the School long, so arrangements were made for Mass in the Old Masonic Lodge. The Building still stands diagonally opposite the Carlton Hotel, next to the old Railway Bridge.

I left Newcastle in 1918, full of ideas and DETERMINED to get a Catholic Church in Witbank…… HOW, I DID NO\T KNOWE…… Mother Prioress thought it was a wonderful ambition and told my Father that I was full of High ideals and Aspirations. ---He thought the CHURCH “Aspiration” was quite CRAZY. Father Kirk paid a visit shortly after my Return. I told him that it was my ambition to get a Church in Witbank. He was VERY interested and ENCOURAGING and said he would soon be seeing Bishop Cox and would speak to him about it, but told me to write to him about the project in the meantime, which I did. The Bishop replied that there was not the most REMOTE chance of a Church being built in Witbank, if, in the future a Parish had to be established in the Eastern Transvaal it would be in Middelburg as he considered ia a more suitable place and a Church already existed there (A wood and Iron Church had been erected in Middelburg during the post Boer War Days of Military occupation). He continued that this was also quite IMPOSSIBLE in the meantime as he did not have enough Priests to Staff existing Parishes…The Letter terminated in the strain ….. Consider the Matter CLOSED………….

I had DEEP Faith, boundless optimism and enthusiastism and was QUITE undaunted …… I felt that I HAD to persevere.

At this stage I went to work in the Offices of Messrs. Harvey & Prinsloo, Solicitors. The Firm still exists as Harvey, Mostert & Grobler. Mr Harvey still lives in Witbank at 55 Plumer Street. It seems providential that I should have gone there. They ASKED me to come and work for them. I was going to take up Nursing but was not old enough to enter a Training School. It was the best possible place I could have gone to, to learn all about Witbank and its prospects. Mr. Harvey was Solicitor for the Witbank Colliery, Owners of ALL the ground in and around Witbank and owners of practically all the Mineral Rights in its vicinity. Mr. Harvey was also Solicitor for the Witbank Municipality. Our Offices, a HIVE of Activity were in Main Street, Now GHOST TOWN. Messrs. Harvey and Prinsloo were the leading Solicitors in the District and Solicitors for all the Mines, Mine Owners and Wealthy Farmers. Mr Prinsloo had the confidence of ALL the Afrikaans Section of the Public. He was instrumental in getting the first Afrikaans Church here (While I was working to get a Catholic Church, --- in the Same Offices) I knew DEFINITELY now that Witbank would grow. I also learned that the Township was going to be Extended and felt that it MOST important to acquire ground for our Church. I found out at that time that Mr. Tamplin-Lewis, the first Manager of the Witbank Colliery had promised a site for a Catholic Church to Father Kempf. I wrote to Father Kempf (Parish Priest of Benoni) and asked him if anything had been done about it. He replied that the Promise had been a verbal one and that Mr. Tamplin-Lewis had died before it had been put into execution. Some time later I asked Mr. Harvey to find out if a piece of ground had been allocated for a Catholic Church, but there was no record thereof. I mention this, because, through it, we were allocated a piece of ground in the New Township.

Father Kirk visited Witbank about every Three Months. He too, remained undaunted about the Church project, but he could NOT convince Bishop that Witbank was a better place to establish a Parish than Middelburg. Witbank was “ADIRTY LITTLE VILLAGE”, with ONE Main Street – and a VERY dirty one – running right along the Railway Line with a Colliery Dump (Witbank Colliery), then Operating, at the one end and a LONG ROW of Railway Houses, with their BACK YARDS facing the street, at the other end. RIPLEY “BELIEVE IT OR NOT” fame recorded this fact in one of his Books. Middelburg had been a prosperous little Town in the days of Military Occupation. It remained a PLEASANT little Town, Clean, with nicely laid out Streets, a few BIG Stores, GOOD Hotels and nice Homes and Gardens for many years. Rich people who earned their money in Witbank lived in Middelburg. Samuel Stanford, (Our Catholic Boys Hostel in Middleburg was his Home) was one of them. For MANY years Middelburg looked far more prosperous and attractive than Witbank. Middelburg was CLEARLY marked on the Map of the Transvaal and South Africa. Witbank could scarcely be seen on the former and did not appear on the latter …. It is not surprising that Bishop Cox favoured Middelburg. A fair amount of Correspondence took place between Father Kirk and me, as I did all his Witbank work for him. Collecting, sending out Notices etc. In most of his letters the following remark appeared:- “I have seen the Bishop, --- and as before – have urged Witbank in preference to MIddelburg, but he continues to favout Middelburg.” The situation was certainly unpromising as we could not make much progress without the bishop’s approval.

I always had a great Devotion to the Sacred Heart and with my Sister Nell (Now Nell Moore), Ann (Willox) was at School in Newcastle….. went RIGHT out of Town, into the Veld every Evening to make a Novena to the Sacred Heart and PRAY that we would get our Ground and Church. The Boundary of the Town at that time was RHODES Street and the spot we went to , to make our Novena was a Prominent Rock formation, right in the middle of the Veld. Over a year later, when the New Township was planned and a site reserved for a Catholic Church, that EXACT piece of Ground was allocated to us.

I have previously mentioned the ACUTE SHORTAGE of Priests in the Transvaal. The Redemtorists came out chiefly to give MISSIONS. Pioneer Rectors said – “We are MISSIONS Priests. Our Parish is merely incidental.” (The Monastery was a VERY small Parish then.) Father Kirk as Travelling Priest for the Eastern Transvaal was away from the Monastery for a good deal longer than he could conveniently be spared. The Train Service too was most inconvenient. Father Kirk appealed to the people of the Places he visited for a FORD CAR to enable him to get about in less time. The FORD was about the only var that could negotiate the BAD ROADS of those days. Its Price was ±£100 and another £5 for the Self Starter. All the DORPS contributed and Father Kirk got his FORD. One Family Father Kirk often spoke about  made the most generous contribution, the COOK FAMILY of Ermelo. When the Car was acquired Father came more frequently, about every 6 weeks, with a promise of Monthly visits when more Priests were available.

The Proprietor of the Carlton Hotel in Father Kirk’s time was a Mr. Anderson. He had a grown up son and daughter. He and Father Kirk became great friends. He also made a contribution towards Father’s Car. Father Kirk told him that we were trying to get a Catholic Church in Witbank. He kindly said that he would run a Fund Raising Bioscope any time we wished for the project, as his son and daughter had both attended Catholic Schools. The daughter Parktown Convent and the son Marist Brothers. They had both been so happy at their Schools and done so well there that he said he would never cease to be grateful to the Catholic Church for all they had done for his Children.

I wrote letters “G A L O R E” to our Local Catholics for support for the Church Project, without any response. The only two who showed any interest were Cissy (McKenna) Graham, who was always sympathetic, helpful and generous when approached and a Mrs. AMY BURNETT. Mrs. Burnett gave me THE BEST ADVICE I EVER HAD.. She was a relative of Mother ROSE NILAND, Foudress and Mother General of the Newcastle Dominicans.  Mrs Burnett’e Husband worked at Stanfords. He bought a small portion of the Farm Wolwerkrans, where the Witbank Colliery now Operates. He left his wife and four Children there, without Transport and shortly afterwards left Witbank and deserted her. She was EXTREMELY poor and Mother Rose was helping her by educating her Children for her. The Girl went to Dundee Convent and the boys to Lennoxton Newcastle. Mrs. Burnett wrote to me and said – “I do not think we have much hope of getting and maintaining a Church in Witbank, as we are a Small, not Rich and Floating Community. Why don’t you try and get a CONVENT here as there is a real need for a Convent School and their Small Church will serve our Congregation.” I had not THOUGHT about a Convent but considered that this was an excellent suggestion…. So…. Set out with renewed enthusiasm… NO ONE amongst the Catholics was particularly interested, except Cissy Graham…then OUT OF THE BLUE. Mrs. Margaret Lamb came to Witbank. She was an Anglican Convert and was MOST interested and enthusiastic and became the First and ONLY Catholic Helper I EVER had.

About a Month after Mrs. Lamb’s arrival, Mrs. Burnett was trying to sell her farm, through HARVEY & PRINSLOO. She wanted to go to Pretoria where she had relatives and there would be better opportunities for he Children. Mr. Harvey went out to visit her at the Farm on a Saturday afternoon during the School Holidays. He asked “However do you get Your Children to School from this ISOLATED place.”  She told him that her Children all went to Convent School in Natal… He then said “That is a long way to send your Children, are there no Convents nearer Witbank.” Mrs. Burnett replied. – “May Barry in your office is trying to get a Convent in Witbank. In your position I am sure you could help us to get the Groud for it. Once we get the ground we will find Nuns to come here and Build a Convent.” Mr. Harvey’s first Wife was a “T.B.” invalid, they had a delicate 4 year old son Godfrey. When Mr. Harvey told his wife about the Convent project on their way home she was most keen about it. (Mrs. Harvey and the little Boy always remained in the Car outside while Mr. Harvey did his visiting). Mrs. Harvey said that a better type of  School was badly needed in Witbank and that she hoped the Convent would be here by the time Godfrey had to go to School.

On Monday morning when Mr. Harvey came to work he called me to his Office and said – “I hear you are trying to get a Convent in Witbank. It is an excellent scheme. Do tell me all about it.” Without knowing what Mrs. Burnett had told him, I repeated almost the same Story. ---- Once we acquire the ground, we would find a Religious Order to come here. They provide the funds for the erection of the building. He replied:- “I have to see Mr. Addie this morning, I will speak to him about it. I am sure we will have no difficulty in getting the ground ---it will take a little time, as the Extension of the Township is not an accomplished fact yet.” Mr. Addie was the Manager of the Witbank Colliery, a big Share Holder and an IMPORTANT man in the Town then (according to the Standards of those days) … He and Mr. Harvey were also great friends. Mr. Harvey duly returned from the Interview looking VERY PLEASED and told me – “I am sure we will get that ground, come and take down a letter to Confirm my interview and put the request in writing”.

The letter ran as follows:-

“With reference to the Writer’s interview with you to-day, we wish to confirm that we have been approached by the Local Catholics with the view of obtaining a suitable piece of ground for the purpose of Erecting a Convent School. We are of the opinion that a School of this type will supply a long felt want in Witbank. We understand that Funds for the erection of the building are available and that it is only a question of obtaining the ground. We think that a Site in the New Township, or the Eastern portion thereof would be most suitable. As you are aware the Sisters Reside on the Property so it is desirable to have sufficient ground for Recreational purposes etc. Thanking you for your kind assistance in this matter.” (Signed) HARVEY & PRINSLOO.

          I almost R A N to Mrs. Lamb after work that day to tell her our good news. I asked her to call on Mr. Harvey and Thank him and suggested that she had all further dealings with him in the matter. I felt it would be better as I was working in his Office and was in “Present day Language” – a TEENAGER. Mrs. Lamb and Mrs. Burnett who lived miles out of Town, without Transport, were the ONLY Catholics in our proposed Convent Scheme. Mrs. Burnett wrote to thank Mr. Harvey and Mrs. Lamb called personally. ---- Mrs. Lamb’s dealings with Mr. Harvey in connection with the Convent project continued for almost FOUR years. That night I wrote to the Bishop and Father Kirk to tell them what had happened. Father Kirk wrote and said how VERY pleased he was over this most unexpected good fortune and added that he would be in Witbank in a fortnight’s time when we would discuss the matter. The Bishop also wrote ……….. I had asked him to write to Mr. Harvey, said we would be DEEPLY GRATEFUL if he would do so as it was exceedingly kind of Mr. Harvey to do so much for us. He was a Prominent Anglican in the Town and he had enlisted the help of “THE POWERS THAT BE”--- ALL ANGLICANS --- for us. The Bishop wrote a most gracious letter of thanks to Mr. Harvey. Mr. Harvey asked me what O.M.I. meant. ---

His Lordship’s letter to me was in a different strain … it read as follows:- “I have told you previously and DEFINITELY that it is not at all possible to build a Catholic Church in Witbank. Now you have put forward this Convent Scheme. It will be almost IMPOSSIBLE to find an Order willing to undertake this venture. At the moment I am trying to get an Order to take over a Convent in existence and doing WELL ----- WITHOUT SUCCESS --- I can see no likelihood of finding an Order willing to launch out on a completely new undertaking, involving great expense, with an uncertain future.” The Bishop NEVER at ANT TIME gave me any Hope or Encouragement…. I could not think what Convent he was referring to. There were not many Convents in the Transvaal then, and I knew most of them. I had been busy making exhaustive enquiries with an eye on one of their Orders for Witbank…. When Father Kirk came he told me that the Convent His Lordship referred to was The Convent of Mercy in HARRISMITH O.F.S.

          While Bishop Matthew Gaughren was Bishop of KIMBERLEY (1904 – 1914) he introduced the Notre Dame Nuns who opened a Convent in Kroonstad. He also brought out the English Sisters of Mercy from Oldham in England to found a Convent in HARRISMITH.  Bishop Gaughren died as a result of Ptomaine Poisoning in 1914 and Bishop Cox was called upon to act as ADMINISTRATOR of the KIMBERLEY DIOCESE… Bishop Cox carried this heavy responsibility in addition to the tremendous burden of the WHOLE of the TRANSVAAL for 10 years. The Harrismith Convent was doing well,, but a regrettable incident made it expedient for all the Nuns to leave Harrismith and Bishop Cox was faced with the problem of finding another order to take over the Harrismith Convent. No wonder he could hold out so little hope to us.

          A few days before Father Kirk arrived on this previously referred to Visit I had  THE MOST UNFORTUNATE ADVICE I EVER HAD ----   at an inopportune time… I knew NOTHING about Catholic Churches, or the working thereof. The only Catholic Church I had ever been associated with was our Little Convent Chapel at the Academy in Newcastle, seating capacity about 30. During the War Years THREE big Schools in Newcastle shared one old RETIRED GERMAN Priest ….. Mrs. McKenna and her daughter Mrs. Rose Horsefall met me in the Street, “PUT ME ON THE MAT” and gave me a “GOOD DRESSING DOWN”. Mrs. McKenna said “You must stop this SENSELESS scheme of getting a Church in WITBANK…. We will NEVER be able to support it and it is quite unnecessary as we are better off now than we have ever been since Father Kirk has his Car he can get here more often.” I replied that I did not intend stopping the Scheme as the other Churches had to start in a small way and now----- I did not get a Chance to tell them about the recent development re the Ground for the Convent etc---as Mrs. Horsefall interrupted “Our Church is different, our people are always “WANTING” I asked WANTING WHAT ------ Together the enumerated an endless number of things – Vestments, Altar Linen, Statues and ended ….. in goes on and on and on”….. I said “Well I am afraid it is too late to think about that now as Non-Catholics are involved. Mr. Harvey is trying to get ground for us…. We Hope to get a Convent too. Mr. Anderson has promised to give a Fund Raising Bioscope and our old Irish Bachelors have promised me financial help too.”  Mrs. Horsefall then said…”Well you must be sure you get a GUARANTEE from the Bishop that the money collected in Witbank will be Spent in Witbank. He has the whole of the Transvaal to finance and has the power to spend our Money wherever he pleases.” I added that I knew nothing about the Financial set up of the Church, but I did know that as soon as we got our Ground we would need Money to cover the Legal and Municipal Costs of Transfer. That should be our responsibility, but I would mention the matter to Father Kirk and he would know what to do about it. I told Father Kirk about the McKenna-Horsefall request when he came. He told me that he would not be seeing the Bishop for some time as he was going to give a Mission, but he would write and mention the request to him…. Bishop Cox was FURIOUS. He replied to Father Kirk and Father sent the letter on to me. His Lordship expressed his indignation thus --- “I take STRONG exception to the Catholics of Witbank asking me for a Guarantee as to how I will spend their Money. Do the Catholics of Witbank think that I will misappropriate their Funds. I DESIRE NO MAN’S MONEY. I give my Priests STRICT instructions to render DETAILED accounts to their Parishioners of all money collected and detailed particulars of how ALL of it has been spent.” Mrs. Lamb and I were very upset about this, especially as it was MOST important to have the Good Will of the Bishop at the time.

          I learned later that Bishop Cox was MOST PARTICULAR and STRICT about Financial matters. When he took over the Vicariate it was on the BRINK of Financial disaster. Bishop Cox was an OUTSTANDING Business Man. He inherited a LOAD of Financial Difficulties from his Predecessors. Financial Problems set in, in the time of THE VERY REV John de Lacy. Fortunes were made “Overnight” in the early days on the Goldfields. Father de Lacy “Invested” Church funds in the Share Market, but unfortunately selected the wrong shares. During the time of Bishop Cox predecessor, Bishop Miller, Financial Matters continued to grow steadily worse. Bishop Miller could no longer cope with the situation so he resigned in 1912 leaving the Vicariate in a labyrinth of financial problems. Bishop Cox was appointed Administrator in 1912 and made Bishop in 1914. It taxed his good Business acumen to almost breaking point to save the Church from Financial Ruin. His achievements were REMARKABLE.

The Bishop was very annoyed with us…. Justly so… I admitted, when I learned the background of circumstances. Had negotiations for the acquisition of ground not been underway I think he would have made the Witbank Church project a “Closed Book”….

BUT ---- In the throes of all this the Church in MIDDELBURG was BURNED  DOWN. It was insured and I think the amount paid out was between £200 and £300. The Bishop had by this time realized that Middelburg was on the way “OUT”  and Witbank on the way “IN”, so he decided to Earmark the Insurance Money for the Witbank Church Project.

          I left Witbank at this stage to go Nursing in Boksburg. Mrs. Lamb, Father Kirk and Mr. Harvey continued with the good work. The Ground for the Church was allocated as soon as the New Township was proclaimed. Bishop Cox paid a few visits to Witbank to arrange matters with Mr. Harvey and Mrs. Lamb. Mrs. Lamb always met him at the Station. He arrived by the 12noon daily train and left by the same train which returned to Johannesburg at 2p.m. They went straight to Mr. Harvey’s Office as the Office closed at 1p.m., then Mrs. Lamb and the Bishop had lunch at the Carlton Hotel as time was limited. Bishop Cox was an old man. He was over 70 years old when we were adding to his problems with our Witbank Schemes. The Church was almost an accomplished fact but Mrs. Lamb kept pressing the Convent Project. On one visit His Lordship asked her, ”Why are you so keen to get a Convent in Witbank”. Mrs. Lamb replied “Because I think a Convent is VERY Badly needed here. I do not know the Principal of the local School, but I know the Vice Principal, Mr. Lincoln very well, he is my next door neighbour. He has told me that he has overheard Conversations between 14 and 15 year old girls in his Class that he would Blush to hear in the most disreputable BAR.” Bishop Cox replied “It seems that a Convent is a Dire need here.”

          The Foundation Stone of our Church was laid in 1921.

          Bishop Cox built TWO other identical Churches about the same time. The first one was in Brakpan, then Witbank Church was built and the last at Capital Park, in Pretoria. The builder was a well known Catholic, Mr. McInerney (Grandfather of V.F.P. Mr. McInerney).  The Brakpan and Capitol Park Churches have been altered and extended beyond recognition. Our Church was the first Building to be erected in the New Township. Mr Harvey, who was instrumental in getting the ground for us was in Cradock when it was completed, with his wife who was dying of “T.B.” The little Boy Godfrey Harvey, in whose interest his Father and Mother wanted a Convent in Witbank commenced His School Career at Cradock Convent. He was Rewarded a Rhodes Scholarship in later Years.

          The following Report of the Laying of the Foundation Stone appeared in “THE WITBANK NEWS”. :- 9^th September 1921.  ….

          “It was a very impressive Ceremony that which took place on Wednesday 31^st August when Bishop Cox, with full Catholic Ceremonial laid the Foundation Stone on the Roman Catholic Church now in the course of erection in the New Township Extension. Attending the Ceremony a large number of Residents of Witbank, thoroughly representative of all Religious Denominations. Among those present, the Attending Priest, Mr. McInerney, the Contractor & His Daughter, His Worship the Mayor and the Mayoress. Mr. & Mrs. Graham from Tavistock Colliery, Mr. & Mrs. Smith from Station Colliery, Mr. & Mrs. J. Lamb, Mr. & Mrs. Barry and Family, The Portuguese Consul, Mr. de Mello,  Mr. & Mrs. Ziman, Mr. Wreford (Witbank News), Mr. & Mrs. Christopher, Mrs. Vial, Miss Adams, Mr. D.J. Lewis, Mr. English, Mr. Salmon, Mr. O’Shaughnessy, Mr. Warren, Mrs. Anderson, Mr. & Mrs. Hamlin.

          The Ceremony was an impressive one and was carried out with all the Ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. Firstly came the Consercration and after that the laying of the Foundation Stone. Engraved on the Stone was the following wording:- THIS STONE WAS LAID BY THE RIGHT REV. BISHOP COX O.M.I. ON THE 31^st day of AUGUST 1921.

          The Bishop conducted the service throughout in Latin and at the Conclusion of the Ceremonial he addressed the gathering in English, wishing the Church and all connected with it every success. His Lordship referred to the prospect of building a Convent School in Witbank and trusted that this aim may be shortly achieved. The erection of the Church however was the first essential, the building of the Convent School would be their next care. After the conclusion of the Bishop’s address His Worship, the Mayor mounted the platform in front of the Stone and in appropriated terms expressed his good wishes and the privilege he felt was his to be present at the Ceremony that he had witnessed. He remarked upon the fact that the New Church was the first building to be erected in the New Witbank Township Extension and that very many people would heartily welcome the opening of a Convent in Witbank, where educational needs were daily increasing, there being now 583 Children receiving Education at the Local Government School, which would be shortly increased to 800.

          At the conclusion of the Ceremony a Collection was taken which added considerably to the building fund.

          It is interesting to note that the inception of the idea of building the Roman Catholic Church in Witbank is due to the initial efforts made by Miss. May Barry to raise funds for the purpose and later the idea was furthered by Mrs. Joseph Lamb who is also keenly interested in the Scheme to erect a Convent School in Witbank”.

          The building of the Church was duly completed. Owing to Labour unrest and disturbed conditions (prior to the 1922 Strike) the  building was made smaller than it was originally planned. The North Wall should have continued to the Rooms at the Back .. right to the end…

          Fr de Hovre was sent down to Witbank, from Pretoria as First Resident Priest. He lived in the Two Rooms at the back of the Church, the Presbytery of Most of the Priests of those days. His residence however was of short duration. Father de Hovre has benn doing all the Leper Work and most of the Native Mission work in Pretoria. The acute shortage of Priests continued and nobody suitable could be found to do his work, so he was recalled to Pretoria.

          Father de Hovre always had a lot of “LAME DUCKS” (Problem People in Modern Jargon) on his hands. He brought one down to Witbank as Caretaker of the Church, John Koekenbrood, an ex-Trappist monk (lay Brother). Brother John took little care of the church, from the Domestic angle (He only slept there….), but he wandered around the District all day and every day, visiting….. He would have made a Good Legion of Mary worker as  he “Discovered” quite a number of “Retired Catholics”. He got Father de Hovre to send him Catholic Papers and Pamphlets, which he distributed. He had  his meals wherever he happened to be and was almost a Fulltime Table Boarder at Lamb’s and Barry’s for his evening meals. John Koekenbrood was the “Self Appointed” “Missioner” of Witbank and a VERY Zealous one….

          While John Koekenbrood was here Bishop Cox found an Order of Nuns to come to Witbank …..Strange that they were an Order that we had not thought about. We had approached the Loreto Nuns, on Bishop Cox instructions, as they were the Pioneer Order in the Transvaal. Later we interviewed the Holy Family Nunsand the Newcastle Dominican Sisters. I have written the History of the Comining of the Convent to Witbank and it was published in last year’s (1959) VERITAS “The Silver Star” King Convent and Branches Magazine. Bishop Cox, who was SO opposed to the Witbank Church and Convent Scheme BUILT a Church and FOUND an Order to open a Convent here. He had, more than once, written to tell me that there was not the most remote chance of getting either……

          When Father de Hovre was recalled to Pretoria our Family made Novenas to the Sacred Heart and said Rosaries for Priests for Witbank & District. Some time later Father Klassert told me that the Sacred Heart Fathers in Khartum were, about the same time, praying to the  Sacred for new fields for their Mission Work. They were having a distressing time in the Sudan, after World War 1.

          Bishop McSherry of Port Elizabeth on one of his Many Overseas tours, in search of Priests and Nuns, attending Eucharistic congresses etc (He did 20 Tours altogether) was traveling to Europe on a German Boat via the East Coast. In Post World War 1 years the German Boats “Adolf Woerman” etc… did excellent “AROUND AFRICA” Tours. They spent several days in each Port and arranged most interesting Inland Tours. Bishop McSherry did a tour in Khartoum and met the Sacred Heart Priests there, looking for another Country for their Mission Work. He thought of the Eastern Transvaal. In passing it is interesting to note that Bishop McSherry was the First Missionary to go to the United States of America to collect maoney for Mission work in South Africa. He made his appeal at the turn of the Century, for the Port Elizabeth Vicriate.

          The first group of Sacred Heart Priests arrived about 1924. The EasternTransvaal was taken over, from Bishop Cox by their Order. At that time there was only a Church in BARBERTON, a small, VERY OLD Church in PILGRIMREST, a Church and Convent in LYDENBURG, a NEW Church in WITBANK, built by Bishop Cox and a Convent in the course of erection.

          Father Klassert was appointed the FIRST Sacred Heart Priest in Witbank. Everybody was Happy about the arrival of a Resident Priest, except John Koekenbrood. He regarded the New Missioners as intruders …. He told Father Klassert “I AM THE MISSIONER OF WITBANK”…….. Father Klassert had a difficult tine in stopping his activities and persuading him to seek new “Mission Territory”…

VISIT TO WITBANK OF THE LATE MOTHER LUCY,

FOUNDRESS OF   W I T B A N K    C O N V E N T

          The news of the Death of the oldest “King” Dominican Sister, Mother Lucy, in this weel’s Southern Cross, severs a link in the Catholic History of Witbank.

          Mother Lucy came to Witbank in July 1922 with the late Father de Hovre and Sister Lagouri from Belgravia to examine the Site acquired by Mt. E.A. Harvey, Solicitor of Witbank, from the Witbank Colliery for the erection of a Convent School.

          Three Religious orders had already been approached. Mrs. J. Lamb and Miss. May Barry, who made initial initial efforts to get a Church and Convent in Witbank, had been told by the late Bishop Cox to give the Loreto Sisters of Pretoria first option, as they were the Pioneer Teaching Order in the Transvaal. The late Mother Patrick was interviewed in Pretoria. She regretted htat she could not undertake the venture as they were busy opening a New Convent in Nairobi. The late Mother Rose of the Newcastle Dominican Order was then approached. Mother Rose regretted that she could not consider the proposition as she was busy building a Big Convent in Boksburg and hadneither ther Sisters, nor the money to open another Convent at the time. Lastly Mother St.John of the Holy Family Convent, End Street, Johannesburg was interviewed. She was definitely not interested in Witbank as it did not appear to be a good place for a Convent. We told her that approximately 20 Mines were operating in the District and that the future was promising, but she was NOT INPRESSED….

          The Late Bishop Cos in the course of a Conversation with Mother Lucy who was visiting Belgravia Convent, mentioned that he was looking for an Order who might be interested in opening a Convent in Witbank and would her Order consider the project. She replied “I will think about it”.

          A month later the late Father de Hovre wrote to Miss May Barry and said he was bringing Mother Lucy and another Sister to Witbank Two days later. Father de Hovre was visiting Priests for Witbank then… He said Mother Lucy is a Holy and a Humble soul. She does not want to inconvenience anybody by accepting hospitality. She will be happy to stay overnight in the Rooms at the back of the Church until the train leaves mid-day the following day. Brother John Koekenbrood was installed in the Rooms at the back of the Church… a Zealous soul, but NOT THE LEAST HOUSEBOUND….

Mrs. Rattey (then Rita Hodson) and May Barry spent two VERY BUSY days spring Cleaning and preparing the Rooms for Mother Lucy’s visit. Mrs. Lamb was in England on Holiday. The late Mrs. Barry sent an excellent supply of Cold meat, Roast Chicken, Fruit, Salads, Eggs, Cake etc for the visitors as the ONLY place for Cooking was an Open fireplace.

          The Visitors, Mother Lucy, Father de Hovre and Sister Lagouri arrived by the mid-day Train and were met at the station by Miss May Barry. After Lunch Mother Lucy, Sister Lagouri and May Barry walked over to the site allocated for the Convent. It was a “FIELD” of Huge Rocks then. Mat Barry, with the support of Sister lagouri begged Mother Lucy to come to Witbank. The three were sitting on a big Rock when Mother Lucy suddenly stood up and said “ You two stay here – I want to be alone to make this decision”. Mother Lucy walked around, picking her way between the Rocks, saying her Rosary and Praying for guidance while her two Companions said a Rosary and Prayed for a favourable decision. After 40 minutes Mother Lucy returned and said – “God has brought us to Witbank, I believe it is His Will that we come here – We will come.” Sister Lagouri, full of enthusiasm and joy said “Oh Mother please let us have a Double Storey Building and TREES”. Mother Lucy replied – “You will have your Double Storey Building – and Trees.”--- They then returned to the Church. 

In the meantime Father de Hovre had arrived there with the late Mr. & Mrs. C. Barry. They were very pleased to hear the good news and Mr. Barry went to get Mr. Harvey to obtain full particulars about the site.

          It was discovered that the Site comprised TWO Stands, divided by a Sanitary Lane. Mr. Harvey, who was Solicitor for the Witbank Colliery and the Witbank Town Council at the time, made the necessary arrangements to have the lay-out altered. The late Mr. Sam McGill, a friend of Mr. Barry’s happened to be passing as they were leaving the Sisters at the Church. He kindly offered to do all the blasting to remove the Rocks on the site.

          Mr. Harvey made all arrangements for the Transfer of the land to the Dominican Order the following morning.

          The late Mother Lucy should always be remembered in the prayers of the Catholics of Witbank, in gratitude, for giving us our Convent.      MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

Grand Knight - Danie Papenfus

Reverend Chaplain - Fr. Molewe Machingoane

Deputy Grand Knight - Vacant

Secretary - Herbie Collignon

Treasurer - Manuel Soalheiro

Chancellor - Tony Bulmer

Master-At-Arms - Anthony Beale