Benoni was a ‘spiritual wilderness’
In 1895 the Rev Walter Goodwin left his native England to establish Methodism on the gold mines of the dusty mining town of Benoni.
He described what he first saw as a “spiritual wilderness”.
In 1896, Goodwin was stationed at the first Methodist Church in the area, which was built on the Van Ryn Gold Mines, close to where the Benoni Country Club is today.
It was a corrugated iron building with a wooden floor and was regarded as the height of luxury in those days.
In 1907, the first Methodist Church in Benoni central – an impressive building with three gables – was built on the corner of Lake Avenue and Rothsay Street.
The church was replaced by the present Benoni Central Methodist Church on the corner of Bunyan Street and Cranbourne Avenue.
As people continued to flock into the area, Benoni grew – and so did the Methodist congregation.
Private homes could no longer be used to accommodate the children, so, in 1929, it was decided to build a hall which would also serve as a church.
The Wesley Hall, affectionately known as “The Church on the Hill”, was built on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Seventh Street, Northmead, opposite the current Hoërskool Brandwag.
When the “Church on the Hill” became too small for the thriving Sunday school and congregation, the local municipality made two acres of land available.
After a few years of fund-raising and careful planning, the Northmead church was sold and the foundation stone of Northfield was laid in 1971; the church was officially opened on May 6, 1972.
Information supplied by Glynis Cox Millett-Clay.
Also read:
Glynnwood’s history won’t be forgotten
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