In 1879 the first Bishop of Pretoria, the Rev HB Bousfield procured a site at 82 Kerk Street to provide a church for the English-speaking residents of Wakkerstroom, which had been active since 1873. The Rev H Sadler from Marico arrived in 1880 and set up a building committee. The simple structure was built with laterite (ouklip), blouklip and sandstone. The floors are of Oregon pine. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Pretoria on the 6th April 1890.
A rectory was built on the adjoining stan in 1907 (please refer to WA 0023 St Marks Rectory).
In 1959 a stained-glass window was installed with an image of Christ the Shepard as the focus. It was consecrated by the Bishop of Johannesburg in the same year.
The church was declared a national monument in 1982 and in 1986 was deconsecrated because the congregation had dwindled. The building was then sold to the Old Apostolic Church of Africa and was used as such until 2003. It was then subsequently sold to a theologian and in 2007 resold to a local business couple. In 2008 local Anglicans, under the leadership of Fr Reuben Simelani requested permission to hold services in the church and it has been used as such ever since.
Fr Colin Anderson holds Anglican services there, with Fr Peter Russell holding services once a month. Celia Joubert holds a service of the ???? every Sunday after the Anglican service.
References:
Hofmeyr, J.W. et a.l (2009). Wakkerstroom, Jewel of Mpumalanga, Mediakor
Peters,W.(Ed.) (2001).Wakkerstroom: A Conservation Study and a re-assessment, Durban: University of Natal Department of Architecture
GPS coordinates: 27,352028 degrees; 30,143473 degrees
