Page 5 - Bulletin 13 2009

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His objection fell on deaf ears and by the time the transfer of ground had been registered
in the Deeds Office construction of the church was well underway. It was originally

named St. John’s but was soon changed to St. James, in honour of the Apostle and
Fisherman who was also the Patron Saint of Spain whence came the Filipinos’ mother

tongue. The dimensions of this small church were 40 ft. x 18 ft. 8" x 16 ft. high to the
0
top of the roof (pitch 45 ). The walls were made of stone, were 2 ft thick and were
plastered inside and out. The outer boundary of the site was enclosed by a plastered

stone wall, (100 ft. x 100 ft. x 4 ft. 6" high) with separate entrances. Three stained-glass
windows graced the north and south walls while the east end (the seaside) had a small

vestry 11 ft. 9" x 8 ft. 5". It was here that the first St. James Mission School classes
were held during weekdays for the children of the fisherfolk. The front of the church on

the Main Road side had a small entrance porch 8 ft. x 8 ft. wide. (Figs. 1.1 – 1.5).

The opening ceremony of the little church (or chapel as it was often referred to) took

place on Wednesday 1 June 1859 and a detailed account appeared in the Cape Weekly

Chronicle, Friday June 10, 1859.

Roman Catholic Chapel at Kalk Bay. - The new chapel at this place was opened on

st
Wednesday week the 1 instant, by the Bishop, the Reverend Dr Griffiths, assisted
by the Reverend Mr Meagher, Reverend Mr Keirman, and Reverend Mr O'Reilly.
There were about one hundred and fifty people present. The ceremony commenced
by the Bishop and the other clergymen walking round outside the building, chanting
psalms, &c., and on returning to the door, they entered and walked up to the altar,
where they recited the liturgy and psalmody. They then proceeded round the inside
of the church, chanting all the time. After this, the Bishop celebrated mass, which
was followed by an eloquent address by the Reverend Mr Meagher, who chose as his
text the words; “Many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with
Abraham.” At the conclusion of the proceedings, a collection was made, which
amounted to £16. The chapel is a neat Gothic building, and reflects credit on those
who were concerned in its construction, for it certainly is an ornament to Kalk Bay.
It has cost close to £700. The mason-work was done by Mr Frieslich, of Simon’s
Town, and the carpenter-work by Messrs Compton and Lamb, of Cape Town. The
design was given by the Reverend Mr Keirman, Simon’s Town. The building has
been erected in a very short time, the foundation stone having been laid in October
last.