Groote Kerk

The first Groote Kerk was built on this site in 1700, although foundations for an earlier church had already been laid in 1678. Religious practice at the Cape dates back to 1652, when Jan van Riebeeck introduced the Reformed faith. The first service was held aboard the Drommedaris, with later services taking place near the Castle of Good Hope and in a timber structure within its courtyard.

Burials initially took place inside the Castle, but as space became limited, a formal burial ground was established in 1677 in the Company’s Garden, on land now occupied by the church and Church Square. The first recorded burial on the site was that of Reverend Petrus Hulsenaar in December 1677.

Willem Adriaan van der Stel laid the cornerstone for the original church that was replaced, designed and built by Herman Schuette, stonemason and architect.

The church and burial ground were closely linked. During the Dutch colonial period, clergy, officials, and wealthy colonists were buried beneath the church floor. These included governors such as Simon van der Stel (1712), Ryk Tulbagh (1771), and Pieter van Reede van Oudtshoorn (1773). The church contained numbered burial vaults, some accommodating multiple bodies, and burial was largely limited to those who could afford it.

In 1737, the church acquired its first organ, and a vestry was added in 1744. By the early 19th century, the building had deteriorated. In 1841, a new church was constructed on the site, designed by Hermann Schütte, while retaining the original tower. The pulpit, created by sculptor  Anton Anreith.and carpenter Jacob Graaff, had already been inaugurated in 1789 and remains a notable feature. The interior is largely timber, with wooden pews and galleries.

The site reflects over 300 years of burial history. Hundreds of graves remain beneath the church floor, with additional burials once located in the surrounding churchyard, which was phased out during the 19th century. Many original Dutch inscriptions are still visible on tombstones, although some show wear from foot traffic. Restoration work carried out in 1979 helped preserve the remaining tombstones and crypts.

The site reflects over 300 years of burial history. Hundreds of graves remain beneath the church floor, with additional burials once located in the surrounding churchyard, which was phased out during the 19th century. Many original Dutch inscriptions are still visible on tombstones, although some show wear from foot traffic. Restoration work carried out in 1979 helped preserve the remaining tombstones and crypts

The first recorded burial at the  Groote Kerk was that of Reverend Petrus Hulsenaar in December 1677. The grave is one of the oldest identifiable tombs at the Groote Kerk.  Other engraved tombstones can still be seen inside the church; the inscriptions are in Dutch, but many of the tombstones show signs of wear from years of foot traffic. Some graves and memorials were moved or covered during renovations. In 1979, restoration was done to preserve the surviving tombstones and crypts. The churchyard outside once served as a broader burial ground but was phased out in the 19th century. 

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. Today, Groote Kerk is both a functioning church and a heritage site, holding more than 400 years of Cape history beneath its floor.

The church was declared a national monument on 28 September 1962

Audio Guide

Just down Parliament Street, 43 Upper Adderley Street, Cape Town Central,

Admission is free. Donations are gladly accepted

Updated october 2025