A Brief History of the Montagu Community Church (Part 1)
‘BEGINNINGS’
The story of Montagu Community Church (MCC) began with a desire to provide an interdenominational church catering to English-speaking Christians.
At the time, some Christians were driving to McGregor every Sunday evening to attend English-language services organised by the Monte Vista Presbyterian Church in Cape Town. These were led by Mr Allan Tidswell, an elder from Monte Vista. Locals approached him to start similar services in Montagu.
An inaugural meeting was held on 4th May 1986, attended by Christians from various backgrounds: Anglican, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic.
- Mr Basil Whitehead – a respected Christian leader with experience as Church Warden in both Robertson and Montagu – was appointed Chairperson,
- Ms M. Lawrence became Secretary,
- Mrs B. Sherwood the Treasurer, and
- Mrs B. Hough agreed to play piano at the services.
Although the church was to be independent, the committee felt it important to have some form of spiritual oversight. Mr Tidswell – a graduate of the Bible Institute of South Africa and lay preacher in the Monte Vista Presbyterian Church in Cape Town – was appointed to this role, with the authority to select preachers. He also consulted Bishop Douglas and Rev. Robert Smith in an advisory role for the work in the Montagu church plant.
Before services commenced, the oversight committee motivated for a strong doctrinal culture of preaching “in order that the preaching and teaching be Biblical, and not blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning craftiness of men, that at all times the historical doctrinal standards of several denominations which are in full agreement on the fundamentals of the faith be ensured.“
These doctrinal standards are embodied in the following Confessions of Faith:
- The Thirty Nine Articles (Church of England)
- The Westminster Confession (Presbyterian)
- The Savoy Declaration (Congregational)
- The 1689 London Confession (Baptist)
These confessions provided an objective basis for choosing suitable preachers for the Montagu Community Church.
THE FIRST SERVICES
Services duly commenced on 15th June 1986 with regular services on 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. The first communion service was on the 7th December 1986, led by the Rev. Robert Smith.
GROWTH & STRUCTURE
As early as the 1988 AGM, the need for a formal constitution was raised. After reviewing various models, the congregation adopted a constitution similar to that of the Villiersdorp church on 26th April 2001. This constitution ensured the original vision and values of the founders were protected.
Basil Whitehead’s long-term vision was for Montagu to serve as a model, planting similar churches in nearby towns like Bonnievale, Robertson, and Swellendam. The church helped establish the Bonnievale church and shared a pastor, Rev. Claude Stighling, while Mrs Pat Holbery played a key role as pianist in Swellendam’s early church life.
CHALLENGES & CONTINUITY
Over the years, the church has experienced its share of trials and personality clashes. And yet, thanks to God’s grace and the faithful commitment of its members and leaders, it has survived.
Leadership evolved over the years:
- Basil Whitehead was succeeded as Chairperson by Barbara Sherwood in 1988
- Rob Holbery took over in 1991, expanding services to every Sunday
- Des Sterley became Chairman in 1997 and focused on youth outreach
- Keith Foster followed in 2003, and later, Jonathan de Villiers (year unspecified)
In July 1992, Mr Tidswell stepped down. At the AGM, a ‘Cape Town Committee’ was formed to provide spiritual oversight and appoint preachers. This group included Rev. Robert Smith, Brian Turner (appointed as Hon. Pastor until the appointment of Rev Claude Stighling), and Rev. Clive Tyler. In 2001, Graham Kissack joined them as a trustee.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF REV. CLAUDE STIGHLING
Rev. Claude Stighling became connected with the church as a visiting preacher from Cape Town. Later. after moving to Montagu, he joined the local committee.
His sincerity and leadership were eventually recognised, and with the approval of the Trustees, he was appointed Hon. Pastor of Montagu Community Church; a title he never sought but humbly accepted.
Front of church extension under construction
A Brief History of the Montagu Community Church (Part 2)
During Keith Foster’s term of office as Chairman, Rev. Claude Stighling fell ill and was unable to continue his preaching and pastoral work. In the interim, the Trustees appointed Pam Verster as pastoral worker among the elderly and infirm. Mr Sandy Allen stepped in to lead the Wednesday morning Bible Study.
In 2007, Jonathan de Villiers succeeded Keith as Chairman. It was during Jonathan’s leadership that Mr Bing Moll, an accredited Methodist lay preacher – known for quoting his favorite Christian teacher, Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones – was appointed as Honorary Pastor for 18 months.
The role then passed to Rev. Robert Smith – a Trustee – for the next 18 months, followed by Rev. Alan Gray, a retired minister and Rector of a Durbanville congregation, who served for 6 months.
While Jonathan was in office, Neil and Hazel Fraser retired to Montagu. Neil, an experienced preacher and Church Warden within the CESA denomination (now REACH), was ordained as a minister in the Church of England by Bishop Morrison in 2012.
On 1 March 2012, Rev. Clive Tyler inducted Neil as the Pastor of MCC, with Hazel, an accomplished musician, becoming the church pianist.
Following Jonathan’s sudden death in September 2014, Neil temporarily assumed the role of Chairman until the appointment of Mike Folan in 2015. Neil faithfully pastored the church until 2020 when ill health prevented him from continuing. He and Hazel moved to Somerset West where Neil died in October 2023.
John Lansdell, who had previously served for 20 years at Stellenbosch Baptist Church, and then 5 years at Durban North Baptist Church, became the new pastor after moving to Montagu with Liz in 2020, beginning his ministry at MCC.