Glynis Cox Millett-Clay writes:
I read, with interest, the article on the architectural history of churches explored in the Benoni City Times on March 29 and found that there may be some inaccuracies on the St Dunstan’s history.
The first Anglican denomination held their first services in a private house and early mine houses in 1894.
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The first Anglican church was built on the ground belonging to van Ryn Mine in 1905.
This church was built from paper fabric fortified (strengthened) by steel wires.
The foundation stone of the first St Dunstan’s Church was laid by Lady Farrar in April 1909 in Cranbourne Avenue (where the old Constantia Movie House and Savoy Theatre was – now a Christian church).
A difficult decision was made to sell the site of the first St Dunstan’s Church and to build a new church from the proceeds of the sale, on the present site in Woburn Avenue.
The stones of the original church in Cranbourne Avenue were preserved in the Noble Arch above the high altar and in the Lady Chapel.
A replica on a smaller scale of the original church, together with the stained-glass windows were also preserved, which was so dear to the early parishioners and now can be seen in the Woburn Avenue Cathedral.
The last service in the old church (Cranbourne Avenue) was held on April 14, 1940, and the foundation stone on the new church (Woburn Avenue) was laid on May 26, 1940.
The present St Dunstan’s Church in Woburn Avenue was consecrated on February 23, 1941.
St Dunstan’s was proclaimed to be the Cathedral Church of St Dunstan on November 21, 1999.
So, one must not get confused with “Anglican denominations” of the early days and the St Dunstan’s Church which is now a cathedral.
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