Deep within Robben Island’s somber history stands a testament to hope. It is the Church of the Good Shepherd. This church is more than just a building. It is a symbol of resilience.
Let’s step back to the late 19th century. Robben Island served as a leper colony. Imagine the isolation and hardship. In 1895, the lepers themselves built a church. They used stone quarried from the island.
The Church of the Good Shepherd became their sanctuary. Reverend W.V. Watkins funded the church. Sir Herbert Baker designed it. The church was specifically for male lepers. It had no pews. Lepers could only stand or lie during services.
Over 1000 lepers lived on Robben Island. They were moved to Pretoria in 1930. In 1931, all leper buildings were burned. The Church of the Good Shepherd was spared. The graves surrounding the church are those of lepers. They died on the island.
The church’s design reflects a modest Arts and Crafts style. The interior is plain. It is largely undecorated. A rectangular nave leads to a small entrance porch. There is a vestry and a polygonal apsidal chancel. A wide chancel arch connects these spaces. Heavy exposed roof timbering supports a white-painted ceiling.
Reverend Watkins acquired a statue. It was of the Good Shepherd. The statue came from Obergammergau in Germany. It was mounted above the entrance porch. However, the statue has since been removed.
The church stood vacant after the lepers left. It was reconsecrated as a Naval church in 1942. Later, the Prisons Service used it as a store. The church was refurbished in 1999.
Look closely at the exterior walls. They are constructed from hammer-dressed local stone. The base of the wall features a projecting plinth. The building corners show informal quoining. Some corner stones have small incised triangular mason’s marks. The purpose of these marks remains unknown.
Notice the windows. Hardwood frames surround them. The largest window is on the north elevation. It features an arched semi-circular louvre. Windows to the nave comprise sets of two three-paned windows. Each has a trefoil motif. The chancel and vestry windows are the smallest. They are single-paned with trefoil motifs.
The Church of the Good Shepherd is more than bricks and mortar. It represents faith. It embodies community. It stands as a reminder of Robben Island’s complex history. It is a testament to the human spirit. It is a beacon of hope.