Spend the day exploring 19th century Trappist architecture at Centocow Mission and see restoration work in progress.
The Mission was founded in 1888 with funding from a Polish princess. The first church was built in 1892, in 1910 the foundation stone was laid to build a larger church dedicated to the Sacred Heart. All the buildings at the mission where built of bricks made on the site by the monks. “The Sacred Heart Church is one of the finest of all Trappist Churches” to quote the Mission’s website (centocowmission.org).
The main focus of the visit will be on the first church, which is currently undergoing restoration to convert it into a gal-lery featuring the work of the late artist Gerard Bhengu. Bhengu was born and grew up in Centocow and is best known for his artwork documenting the culture of the Nguni language tribes in southern KwaZulu Natal.
The church was built on a hillside with no foundations and over the years the mortar has practically turned to dust. Making the building structurally sound to ensure its longevity is one of the biggest challenges faced by architect Robert Brusse and engineer Hugh Bowman. One of the most excit-ing tasks under taken in this project is to prop up the church tower with temporary steel structure to allow the decon-struction of the walls below so they can be underpinned and reinforced. Robert will give a technical tour of the site and what has been revealed.
There is the opportunity to visit both churches and a nearby weaving school which has been established in a restored sewing workshop building.
RSVP: To give us a rough idea of numbers please RSVP to Kubash at the KZNIA. E: admin@kznia.org.za
Tel: 031 – 201 4128
Catering: to be confirmed: Either bring a picnic or there will be a simple lunch arranged
Meet at 10am at Centocow Mission, Creighton (+-2hrs drive from Dbn)
Directions from Durban: Take N3 North, then take exit 61, Rich-mond and Ixopo direction. In Ixopo make turn right onto R612 for Donny-brook and follow the road till the sign ‘Creighton’ or ‘St Apollinaris’. Then make turn left. Pass Creighton and follow the road for 5 km. At the sign ‘Centocow’ or ‘St Apollinaris’ turn right and follow the road until you reach the Mission.
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