#BCT100 Benoni Baptist Church also 100

Times have changed but the message for the past 100 years has remained the same.

This is according to senior pastor André Broodryk of the Benoni Baptist Church, which was formally established in 1921.

The first property was erected after the First World War when ER Davis succeeded in securing property in Woburn Avenue.

Below is a brief history of the church and congregation since:

The ’20s

In 1922 GT Diver from Glasgow came to be the first pastor after the church hall had been built. During the early years, the church had gone through a rough patch as five pastors had left the church within 10 years, although there had been periods without a pastor, services continued and the church was still believed to be a light to the people of the town.

The ’40s

In 1942 the church was able to do without the annual financial grant from the Baptist Union, but it was not until Rev AB (Bennie) Howes-Howell came to Benoni the following year that the church was cleared of debt. A manse (house provided for a minister of certain Christian churches) fund was launched in 1946 as it became evident that the supply of a manse for the pastor would be necessary for the future.

In 1948 Rev T Sorenson was the first pastor to occupy the manse with his wife.

The ’60s

In the ’60s during Rev Hickel’s ministry, the hall and kitchen were badly damaged by fire; however, this turned to effect as the required repairs presented the opportunity for enlarging the hall. The property next door to the church was purchased to alleviate the growing Sunday school accommodation issues.

The ’70s

In the early ’70s, the idea of selling the Woburn Avenue property and relocating into Farrarmere was established. A building committee was formed and plans were drawn for the erection of a complex in Farrarmere, the first phase was to build a hall, followed by a sanctuary and then an educational block.

The ’80s

The ’80s started with having services at Wordsworth High School and on May 3, 1980, Rev Trevor Swart, general secretary of the Baptist Union, opened the new building. The congregations and Sunday schools of the Farrarmere Fellowshiping and the Benoni Baptist Church merged under the name of the Benoni Baptist Church.

Now

The church has about 200 people attending services. The building in Farrarmere had been upgraded a few times to accommodate more people who attend church through the years and integrate into the digital era.

Broodryk was called to be the senior pastor of the Benoni Baptist Church in 2010 and has 11 years of experience in the position.

He explained his first encounter with the Baptist Church was at the age of 11 when he attended a holiday Bible club at the Northmead Baptist Church that was advertised in the City Times.

His family moved shortly after the holiday club and at the end of 1985 at the age of 28, he felt the call to ministry and had served ever since.

Broodryk highlighted that things had changed as the years passed, which included the attire pastors wore.

“The pastor’s attire was easily recognised, including the clerical collar, which came with a lot of respect from members of the community if you were seen wearing one.”

He added the move from the paper era to the digital had also been helpful to the church, as they are now able to reach more people through online services.

“Hymn books are no longer used as the lyrics are projected on a screen for all to see and more instruments are being used during praise and worship.”

The church now has its own website where people could browse previous sermons and read the latest church news.

Information sourced from Hudson-Reed, S By Taking Heed… The History of Baptists in Southern Africa 1820-1977, Benoni Baptist Church Silver Jubilee 1921-1946 brochure and Benoni Baptist Church Golden Jubilee 1921-1971 brochure.

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