S A Sendinggestig Museum, Cape Town

The South African Sendinggestig Museum (also known as the South African Slave Church Museum) was established in 1977. The South African Sendinggestig Museum is housed in the oldest indigenous mission church in the country built by local Christians.The South African Sendinggestig Museum is housed in the oldest indigenous mission church in the country built by local Christians. In 1801, the Board of Directors of the South African Society for the Advancement of Christ's Kingdom acquired a property in Long Street, Cape Town, for 50, 000 guilders. The existing buildings were demolished and the Sendinggestig built. It was inaugurated on 15 March 1804 by Rev. J.P. S?rumer of the Dutch Reformed Church's Groote Kerk, Cape Town congregation. The Sendinggestig was not originally used for worship services. Instead people went there for prayer meetings, Bible studies or other religious and literacy classes. For this reason it was not called a church, but a gestig or oefeninghuis which is the Dutch equivalent of an American meeting house. Twenty years later it did become a fully-fledged church. This congregation included the poor, Khoekhoen or Khoikhoi and Slaves who converted to Christianity.

• Museum
• Religious and historical importance
• Education and enjoyment
• Local history museum
• Exhibits