St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town, South Africa
S 33° 55.492 E 018° 25.177
34H E 261467 N 6243175
This famous church was once lead by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Waymark Code: WMJ78G
Location: Western Cape, South Africa
Date Posted: 10/05/2013
Views: 7
The construction of this stout, handsome structure was started in 1901, when the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later to become King George V and Queen Mary) presided over the laying of the cornerstone, replacing the former church that had been built on the same site in 1834. The church (and its predecessor) was built on land originally donated by the colonial government, at the edge of garden of the Dutch East India Company. The cornerstone displays the letters AMDG, or “Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam”, which translates to “To the Greater Glory of God”, words that are chiseled on each and every brick of this gorgeous building (however, all the other bricks are facing to the inside of the church and can not be viewed from outside). This is the oldest Anglican cathedral in southern Africa. The cathedral is often referred to as the ‘people’s cathedral’, following a mass protest on September 13, 1989 when about 30,000 people, lef by Archbishop Desmound Tutu, marched in protest of apartheid and racial segregation. The march ended peaceably. It is believed Tutu spoke his famous words ‘And so we came to the cathedral to pray, Muslim, Jew, Christian, black, white – our rainbow nation – and as we walked out into the streets of Cape Town it was exhilarating to be joined by thousands, swept along in the realization of the dream that freedom is possible,’ after the march that began at this church. It is interesting to note that the stained glass in the church includes both a white Christ and a black Christ.
There is also a plaque on the church which memorializes additional history and it reads:
"Upon release from prison on 11 February 1990 and on his election as President of South Africa on 9 May 1994 NELSON MANDELA addressed the nation here."
Address:
St. George's Cathedral
corner of Adderley, Government Avenue and Wale streets
Cape Town, South Africa
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