St Aidan's Chapel celebrates 100 years of service

GEORGE NEWS - St Aidan's Chapel and Resthouse, one of Wilderness' oldest buildings, is celebrating its centenary this year.

It developed from a bequest in 1919 by Archdeacon Peter Fogg of George "towards deserving objects in the Diocese".

Two years later, the new company, Wilderness (1921) Ltd, made plots available, one of which was purchased by the executors of the archdeacon's will.

By 1922 Fogg's "deserving objects" had been fixed as "the building of two rondavels at the Wilderness to serve as a church and a holiday house for clergy who, in return for the accommodation, will take the services during their stay."

Today, the church is still the meeting place for a small but enthusiastic congregation that continues in their mission to provide comfortable, affordable accommodation in the Resthouse for visiting priests and their families. The priests are asked to take the Sunday services while they stay here, so the congregation has a wonderful variety of preaching styles throughout the year, each minister putting his or her stamp of individuality on the service.

A communion service is held every Sunday. Tea and fellowship takes place in the hall on the first Sunday of most months following the service.

Ongoing maintenance

The Resthouse was first occupied by the Rector of Graaff-Reinet who, together with his family, stayed there in January 1923.

The intervening years have brought many demands. A major intervention was required when it was found that the original structure, of bricks bonded by mud dagha, could no longer support the heavy thatch with safety. The Resthouse was redesigned and rebuilt, with a hall and new vestry between the chapel and the Resthouse.

There is an ongoing need to maintain a coastal property and to keep the accommo-dation abreast of modern requirements. The maintenance of the thatch on both the chapel and Resthouse consumes large amounts of capital, with major work required from time to time.

"It is our mission, managed by a small team of volunteers, to ensure that the chapel and Resthouse are cleaned, serviced, and maintained and that the availability of these resources is marketed," says Hugo Leggatt, a long-time parishioner.

"The benefit to visiting clergy is enormous, with many returning year after year on vacation. It is also a privilege and a pleasure to welcome priests from St Mark's Cathedral who come to officiate from time to time."

Supporting the community

The congregation continually reaches out to the local community. Donations from church members annually fund the supply of school uniforms for disadvantaged children in Wilderness.

St Aidan's also supports Paddakleuterskool, a small nursery school in the Heights. Several of the ladies regularly supply thick nourishing soup to supplement the meals that are supplied daily to the children. Items of clothing are collected for the informal settlement residents at Wilderness Heights.

A Pastoral Care Fund also offers support to members of the congregation who require assistance.

Service continuity over 100 years

"It is with some pride that we look back on our first hundred years of existence and the continuity of service that we have been able to provide," says Leggatt. "The two years of the Covid pandemic have taken their toll and the current team of active volunteers is a small one.

"As we look forward to what our second century will bring, we invite others to become involved and in so doing, carry the St Aidan's mission forward. We all have something we can offer."

The St Aidan's Chapel congregation will be celebrating the centenary of the church later this year.