The Rhenish Church, Stellenbosch, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Rhenish Church is a mission church in the centre of Stellenbosch, South Africa, built in 1823 and enlarged in 1840. It is easy to walk past, but its two mismatched entrances record how the building grew. It is also tied to the story of a girls' school across the street.

The story behind it

The Rhenish Church was put up in 1823 as a mission church. At first it was a plain rectangle with a single entrance, facing Mill Street. In 1840 the church was extended, and a second entrance facing the Braak was added as part of that work. This is why the two doorways do not match, and each one carries its own date near the top.

The church shares its history with the old Rhenish School for girls, across from it in Blom Street. On 1 May 1860 Rev. P.D. Lückhoff founded a private school there for the daughters of Rhenish missionaries. Until then these families had to send their daughters to Germany for long periods to get a good education. The school soon outgrew its first small home and moved to larger premises in 1862. Today the building is a national monument and is known as the P.J. Olivier Art Centre.

What to look for

• Compare the two entrances: one is the original 1823 doorway and the other dates from the 1840 expansion, and their styles differ.
• Look up at the top of each entrance to find the two different dates, which show the church was built in stages.
• Notice how the church sits next to the open space of the Braak, which gives you room to step back and take in the facade.
• Look across the street at the former Rhenish School for girls, now the P.J. Olivier Art Centre, and picture it as a school for missionaries' daughters.

Tips for your visit

• Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for the exterior and the two doorways. Allow longer if you also want to look at the art centre.
• Soft morning or late afternoon light is kind to the facade and makes the dates easier to read.
• The Braak and the surrounding historic streets are right next to it, so it works well as one stop on a wider walk through the town centre.
• Check whether the church is open to visitors on the day you go, as access can vary with services and events.

See it on a quest

You can reach the Rhenish Church on foot as one stop of Failed art heist in the City of Oaks, Stellenbosch., a self-guided route through the old town with an art theme. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look closely at details like these doorways. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.