Heidelberg Methodist Church celebrates 130th anniversary
Heidelberg Methodist Church reflected on more than a century of service and faith, honouring 40 ministers, past and present, in a special anniversary celebration.
The Heidelberg Methodist Church reached a milestone, celebrating its 130th anniversary with a special service honouring its present and past ministers on August 17.
The presiding bishop of the Methodist Church, Pumla Nzimande, led the occasion and reflected on over a century of dedicated service to the community.
The church, a sanctuary since 1895, has served as a beacon of God’s light for generations.
The current minister, reverend Khakelethu Mantini, is the 40th leader to serve the congregation.
During the service, Nzimande delivered a powerful message and unveiled a memorial stone to honour all the ministers who faithfully served the church since 1890, even before the building was erected.
The celebration was made more meaningful by the presence of district bishop Sondlila Nkwanyana and district lay leader Nombasa Hlathi, who joined the wider circuit family to honour the church’s past and commit to its future mission.
Fittingly for Women’s Month, three women in key leadership roles – the presiding bishop, the district bishop, and the district lay leader – led the service, making history.
Their leadership is a testament to the vital role of women in the church and to God’s enduring presence and grace in the lives of His people.
The ministers who have been part of the Methodist Church of Heidelberg’s history include: Rev WB Milward
(1890-1893); Rev JF Rumfitt (1893); Rev CF Woofenden (1894-1896); Rev R Applebe (1897-1899); Rev EH Morgan (1899-1902); Rev WC Burgess (1901); Rev E Titcomb (1902-1904); Rev E Dunstan (1904-1909); Rev P Spencer (1909-1913); Rev GH Eva (1913-1917); Rev RJ Good (1917-1923); Rev A Cowgill (1923-1924); Rev CD Choate (1925-1926); Rev G Moseley (1926); Rev MM Cobban (1926-1931); Rev JA Gurney (1932-1933); Rev RI Thompson (1933-1934); Rev RJ Moore (1934-1939); Rev Crabtree (1935); Rev LJ Ray (1939); Rev EH Proctor (1940-1942); Rev A Matthews (1943); Rev J Jackson-Smith (1944-1953); Rev JRM Gibson (1954-1958); Rev P Woolston (1959); Rev J Carruth (1960-1966); Rev B Bird (1967-1970); Rev I Lindsay (1971-1972); Rev G Taylor (1973-1976); Rev M Black (1977-1970); Rev RAJ Olivier (1981-1988); Rev A OB Sutton (1988-1994); Rev D Slabber (1994-1996); Rev A Clark (1997-1999); Rev D Williams (1999-2001); Rev D Moodie (2001-2005); Rev Ray Goddess (2006-2017); Rev Elize Goddess (2018-2020); Rev Michael Lambaatjeen (2022-2023); Rev Khakalethu Mantini (2024 to current).
