Many people assume that Nieu Bethesda started as a mission station. But it was started by a determined group of people who lived in the area and who wanted a church closer than the one in Graaff-Reinet – over seven hours ride away.

Nieu Bethesda is situated on the farm, Uitkyk, which belonged to BJ Pienaar – on his gravestone is engraved De ouers van de dorp (the parents of the town). Even today, many people in and around Nieu Bethesda carry the same surname or have Pienaar connections.

The farm was called Uitkyk because people there always had to be on the lookout for wild animals and for bushmen. There was very strong water on this farm and BJ Pienaar changed the course of the Gats River to drain the vlei’s (marshes) and turn the area into fertile lands – where Nieu Bethesda stands today.

The farmers of this area met for the first time on 15 December 1874, with a view to starting a town and, therefore, a congregation. A dorpsraad (town council) was elected.

Then, in February 1875, a petition group of 169 men met the church council of Graaff-Reinet, headed by the Reverend Charles Murray, son of the first dominee, Andrew Murray, and brother of the other Andrew Murray whose books on Christianity are still read today. On the same day, negotiations were concluded to buy Uitkyk from Pienaar’s sons.

However, only in 1878 did Graaff-Reinet agree to the petitions of the Nieu Bethesda people. Rev. Charles Murray had made a few suggestions regarding a name and, at the founders’ meeting, said: “Laten sy dese plaats nu Bethesda noemen.” These words are reported to have been minuted incorrectly as “Laten wy het Nieu Bethesda noemen.” In fact, during the prolonged negotiations, the name Nieu Bethesda had been used frequently – probably because of the strong fountain and its Biblical reference (John 5:2-4).

In 1880, the church found it too difficult to run the village and a municipality came into being with administrative rights only – the church retained the properties. This meant residents had to pay two taxes, an arrangement that led to friction for generations.

The first period of growth for Nieu Bethesda was from the inception of the independent church in 1878 to about 1930. Thereafter, the town started to decline: improved transport, the Depression, and the town’s isolated location all contributed. Then, in the late 1980s, Athol Fugard’s play The Road to Mecca put the town back on the map. Based on the creative life of Helen Martins, who transformed her modest Karoo dwelling with glass and cement and a singular vision, Fugard’s play drew international attention. Visitors started trickling into the remote village, some of them bought property and stayed, and now the trickle is a steady flow and Nieu Bethesda has been reborn as a beautiful and peaceful place to spend time.

(Thanks to Idil & Neil Sheard, for sharing their extensive knowledge of Nieu Bethesda).

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