Umhlali Methodist Church calls for community support ahead of 100th anniversary

The bells at Umhlali Methodist Church are once again ringing, calling the community to come forward in aid of its restoration ahead of the church celebrating its 100th anniversary next year.

A home to Methodists since 1874, the original church was built on the grounds where its cemetery stands today.

The tiny building was closed with the construction of the larger church in 1924, believed to have been built by the Polkinghorne and Hulett families.

It was later upsized through a community-funded effort in the late 80s, with the help of local butcher Trevor Thompson.

The community again rallied to restore it in 1995 when it partially burnt down.

Recalling the event, Thompson (79) said his daughter was due to be married on the day of the fire on July 8.

“Vandals had broken into the church and smashed a mostly empty safe out of the wall,” he said.

While the vandals found no money, they did find sugar, tea and candles – later making a fire with wooden pedals ripped from an old-England bells and whistle organ, a priceless antique.

The fire destroyed a third of the roof and caused extensive damage, estimated at about R150 000.

Thompson was woken up during the wee hours of the morning by police informing him of the fire.

“I grabbed a hosepipe and raced to the church,” he said, arriving to find firefighters from two different areas arguing about who would put out the fire.

“I still recall the Daily News contacting me, asking if I could get my daughter to pose in front of the burnt church in her wedding dress for a photo,” he said.

The wedding flowers were destroyed in the blaze, but local women rallied to the cause, plucking blooms from their gardens to save the day in as little as three hours.

The venue was moved to the Anglican Church, where Thompson’s daughter Gillian said ‘I do’ to Bradley Turkington.

Great granddaughter of Sir James Liege Hulett, Netta Southwood (83), also has fond memories of the church, where she attended Sunday school as a child. She recalls the road to the church being lined with guava trees, which Thompson said really stank up the place despite being enjoyed for the fruit.

Twenty-seven years later and the building is again in need of some TLC.

Parishioner June Haskell said they would be hosting events in the coming month to fund the upgrade. They would also welcome donations. The first event is a cake sale on April 30 from 9.30am, to be held at the church at 5 Burnedale Place, Umhlali.

Contact Haskell at 083 628 7707 or email june.h@cybersmart.co.za.

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