CONVERTING

SPACE

Changes in the
liturgical spaces of the
Reformed and
Episcopal churches in
the city of
Bloemfontein SOUTH
AFRICA 4 June 2012 Wanda

Verster

CONTENTS
Background
Town planning
Denominations
Liturgy and Space
Changes in Worship
Changes to Buildings
Case Studies
Conclusion

BLOEMFONTEIN

TOWN PLANNING

THE SEGREGATED CITY

INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS

Phahameng Methodist

MANGAUNG
Bloemfontein South

Bloemfontein West

St Rose

Fatima

SUBURBAN

St Josephs

Fichardt park

De Bloem

Fichardtkruin

CHURCHES BUILT 1880-2010

12

10

Number of Buildings

Charismatic
Episcopal
Reformed

1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Year

LITURGY AND SPACE

CHANGES TO BUILDINGS

No intervention
Low level intervention
Mid level intervention
High level intervention

CASE STUDIES
DR in Africa: Bloemfontein-West
Roman Catholic: St Josephs
Roman Catholic: St Rose
Methodist: Trinity
Dutch Reformed DeBloem
Dutch Reformed: Bloemfontein-North
Dutch Reformed Fichardtkruin
Dutch Reformed Fichardt park
Dutch Reformed Student Church

DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH IN AFRICA: BLOEMFONTEIN-WEST

NO INTERVENTION

DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH IN AFRICA: BLOEMFONTEIN-WEST

NO INTERVENTION

VESTRY
PULPIT

PEWS

CATHOLIC CHURCH: ST JOSEPHS

NO INTERVENTION BUILT 1936

ROMAN CATHOLIC: ST JOSEPHS

NO INTERVENTION

ALTAR

Liturgical Space 2011

ROMAN CATHOLIC: ST ROSE

Exterior view 2012

ROMAN CATHOLIC: ST ROSE

ALTAR
PEWS

PULPIT

DUTCH REFORMED: DE BLOEM

LOW LEVEL INTERVENTION

Exterior views 2012

DUTCH REFORMED: DE BLOEM

LOW LEVEL INTERVENTION

Liturgical Space 2012

PEWS

PULPIT
VESTRY

DUTCH REFORMED: BLOEMFONTEIN-NORTH

MID LEVEL INTERVENTION

Exterior Views 2012

DUTCH REFORMED: BLOEMFONTEIN-NORTH

MID LEVEL INTERVENTION

Band
PULPIT

N
PEWS

Liturgical Space 2006-2012

METHODIST: TRINITY
MID LEVEL INTERVENTION

Exterior 2012

METHODIST: TRINITY

Interior 2011

ALTAR
PULPIT

DUTCH REFORMED: FICHARDT PARK

MID LEVEL INTERVENTION

Tower 2012

DUTCH REFORMED: FICHARDT PARK

MID LEVEL INTERVENTION

Interior 2012

PULPIT
STAG
E
Pulpit with the addition of a screen

N
PEWS

DUTCH REFORMED: FICHARDTKRUIN

MID LEVEL INTERVENTION

Exterior 2012

DUTCH REFORMED: FICHARDTKRUIN

MID LEVEL INTERVENTION

Liturgical Space 2012

Interior 2012

PULPIT
STAGE
N
PEWS

DUTCH REFORMED : STUDENT CHURCH

HIGH LEVEL INTERVENTION

Exterior 2011

PULPIT

PEWS

Liturgical Space 1981-2009

Interior 1981

Interior 2010

STAGE
N

PEWS
Liturgical Space 2009-2012

Interior 2012

Episcopal

Reformed

Charismatic

Bloemfontein CRC

St Josephs

De Bloem

Student Church

Changes occur most frequently in:

Dutch Reformed churches

Modernist buildings

Due to liturgical changes