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The cache is a small plastic screw top container, that has been placed in a tree in the church yard, close to this historical site that has been declared a National Monument. The cache contains only a stash note and log sheets so please bring your own pen/pencil.
The new location is close to the access road so please be aware that muggles use the road and walk past it. Please use stealth and replace and conceal the cache as you found it.
The Settler’s church is about 2 km from what was the port at Port Alfred. The hide site is readily accessible. The church yard houses the graves of a broad spectrum of the population and time can be spent reading the headstones on the graves.
HISTORY OF THIS 1820 SETTLER'S CHURCH
Among the thick bush and sandhills on the East Bank of the Kowie River at Port Frances (now Port Alfred) only six years after the landing of the 1820 Settlers, this historic church was opened after having been built by James and Alexander McPhail, two 1820 Settlers from Edinburgh. The first service was preached by the Rev William Shaw. Services are still held here today. It is said to be the only church that has been continuously used since erection by these stalwart settlers. The original roof was constructed of thick thatch, the walls were built of rough stones and the floor was made of dried mud.
This small house of prayer, being the only church for a great many miles, was at first used by all denominations and the settlers came long distances to worship here. They called it the "Bush Church". During the turbulent times of the Frontier wars some of the settlers used it as a place of refuge, but it was devastated by fire. The church was burnt out on 25 December 1834 during the Sixth Frontier War. It was rebuilt and re-opened in November 1840 when the Rev Shaw again preached the first sermon. Six years later on 1 May 1846, during the War of the Axe, the church was again burnt down. It was restored in 1850, the building was now roofed with iron, the walls were strengthened and for a while portion of it was used as a dwelling. It housed a refugee family in 1900-1901 during the Anglo Boer War. It was gazetted a full National Monument in 1974 and is in good condition.
Between the picturesque old church and the neatly-kept settler's cemetery alongside, stands the ancient church bell, which came from a long forgotten shipwreck.
The adjoining cemetery, contains, apart from those of early settlers, the 6 graves of servicemen from the Second World War and more recent graves of citizens from the local community.
The cache has been moved from the really old fig tree but the tree is interesting and should still be visited.
The new location of the cache is slightly more exposed than it was originally, so be aware that there are muggles who walk past its location and there are some that enjoy their tea/lunch breaks near the church.
Stealth is required.
First To Find honours go to iNokia. Congratulations!
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Gur orfg npprff vf sebz gur ebnq fvqr bs gur gerr.