Established in 1851, the Methodist Church is the youngest of three churches commonly mentioned in historical accounts of the original settlement of Wynberg (the others are the Dutch Reformed Church [part of GC821KZ] and St John's Church [GC8EEF4]). However, the history of the Methodist church in Wynberg dated back to 1829 when troops garrisoned at the nearby military camp [GC8EED5] built themselves a small but conveniently located Wesleyan church.
Unfortunately, the colonel of the regiment took exception to the Wesleyans because of their tendency to conscientious objection and ordered it to be burnt to the ground.
A second church was built in the forest on land belonging to a Captain Proctor, who was sympathetic to the Wesleyans (near Ottery Road). This building was added to and patched, and was by the 1840s in very bad condition. The church was burdened with debt and building a new church seemed impossible.
Two brothers, James and Joseph Maynard, came to the rescue. In 1851 they erected the present church, in the Italian style of architecture, and presented it to the Wesleyans. James gave the building and Joseph gave the internal fittings.
The old building was handed over to the coloured community of the Wynberg flats (the around Ottery Road) for their exclusive use. That building was rebuilt in 1894 and a new school, Ottery Methodist School, built alongside.
Immediately next door on the right of the new church is the premises of J.A. Human & Sons Undertakers. John Human moved to Wynberg in 1874 and served as the Anglican parish clerk and verger (caretaker). A skilled carpenter, he expanded his coffin making business into a funeral parlour. In around 1918 he entered into a new partnership Human & Pitt, a most appropriate name for a firm of undertakers. The location is still used as a funeral parlour (albeit under a different name).
Behind the church in Court road is a graveyard that's shared between the three churches and contains a number of very old graves and is recorded in the Provincial Heritage Register. Unfortunately, the entrance is locked, but you can ask for keys at the church office or Avbob.
Note: this is a very busy part of Wynberg with many muggles about at all times of the day. For this reason, the hint gives away more than usual. You do not need to enter the church premises to retrieve the cache — this is doable as a park-and-grab. You will need to bring your own pen.
For a list of references and more information, please see: