Page 19 - KBHA BULLETIN 3

16

BISHOP ROBERT GRAY AND KALK BAY

Mike Walker

Introduction

Bishop Gray’s contribution to the history of Kalk Bay took an indirect route. He had recruited
in 1868 two ladies of means from England to join his St. George’s Order of the Sisters of

Mercy. They were part of a group of nine ladies whose duties would be to administer to the

religious needs of “fallen women” in Cape Town. The two ladies whom Robert Gray
recruited were to play a major role in the development of the little fishing village of Kalk

Bay.

Harriet and Charlotte Humphreys, and Alice Pocklington

Harriet Humphreys and Alice Pocklington arrived in Cape Town on November 1868 on the
RMS Saxon and moved to their quarters in Plein Street. Both Harriet and Alice fell ill and

Bishop Gray decided to send them to his seaside cottage in Kalk Bay to recuperate. This they

did, but finding the plight of the local fishermen’s families so pathetic they persuaded Robert
Gray that there was more than enough work for them to do among the fisherfolk. He agreed to

this and, being ladies of considerable wealth, it was not long before they had built a local

school on the site where Kalk Bay Railway Station was later to be built. Alice Pocklington
taught at this school. They also built a cottage hospital which formed part of their residence

‘Dalebrook House’, an orphanage on the plot next door which they called ‘Douglas Cottage’,

and finally The Holy Trinity Church which was completed in November 1873 and
consecrated the following year. In the meantime Harriet’s sister Charlotte had joined her, and

her contribution was to buy the seaside cottage from Bishop Gray’s deceased estate, which
was opposite the new Church, and convert it into a rectory. (Figs. 2.1 & 2.2.) This she did in

1873 and she then donated it to the church.