A silent bell. That’s what they call it. The three-and-a-half-ton bell in the Central Methodist Church tower. It hasn’t pealed since Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1887. Too much shaking. Too much risk to the foundations of this magnificent building and those around it.
Here we stand before the Central Methodist Church in Cape Town. A historical landmark a testament to faith and activism. This impressive church isn’t just a pretty building. It’s a living breathing part of Cape Town’s story. It’s also known as the Central Methodist Mission or the Metropolitan Methodist Church.
Construction began in 1876. It finished on November 12 1879. The cost was a hefty £17 700. That’s over £2 273 000 today. Architect Charles A S Freeman designed it. Thomas Inglesby built it. The result a stunning example of high-Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. A basilica-type church with a distinctive lean-to roof and a tall spire.
The church is the second oldest building on Greenmarket Square. Older only than the Old Town House across the way. This isn’t just a place of worship. It’s been a refuge a beacon. During the anti-apartheid protests police water cannons damaged its windows. Later in 2019 it sheltered protesting refugees. Its yellow banners have declared solidarity with Marikana massacre victims and criticized the South African Arms Deal. They’ve also celebrated Nelson Mandela. This building has borne witness to history.
Inside rests the gravestone of Reverend Barnabas Shaw. He’s considered the founder of South African Methodism. He arrived in Cape Town in 1816. He’s buried in Somerset Road Cemetery. After its closure his gravestone found a home here.
The Central Methodist Church isn’t just stone and glass. It’s a symbol of resilience faith and social justice. It stands as a powerful reminder of Cape Town’s past and its ongoing struggle for equality. It continues to inspire and to serve its community. A silent bell perhaps. But a mighty voice nonetheless.