DURBAN - This week’s photographs of old and new Durban were sent to us by historian Mark Levin. They were taken of St Paul’s Church, a fitting tribute as the church reopens at a special service tomorrow after almost a year of being under renovation.
The original St Paul’s Anglican Church on the corner of Church Walk and Pine Street in Durban was erected in 1853. The architect was Robert Upton. One of those who made a donation towards the cost was Sir Benjamin D’Urban, after whom Durban was named. But not even his donation was sufficient to enable a bell tower to be built.
The first photo is a watercolour by Robert Tatham, which depicts the opening of the first railway line from Durban to the Point on June 26, 1860. The guests standing in front of the original St Paul’s included the mayors of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, and Bishop John Colenso.
In 1906, St Paul’s burnt to the ground. A new, larger, grander church was built three years later and this time included a bell tower. The second picture is taken from a postcard circa 1910, soon after it was completed.
Earlier this year, the church was closed for renovations, with services taking place in the hall. The third photo by Mark Levin, shows St Paul’s earlier this week. Tomorrow a special service will be held in the renovated church. One congregant described it as a “return from exile”.
The magnificent front stained glass window.
The interior photo, taken by Roy Reed on November 11, Remembrance Sunday, shows the builders’ ladder and tins of paint dwarfed by the vaulted ceiling and magnificent stained glass windows above the altar. The two officers are from local volunteer regiments.
St Paul’s has had some interesting vicars, one of whom was Eustace Wade (1951-1961). His daughter, Virginia Wade, grew up in Durban. She was rather a dab hand at tennis, winning Wimbledon in 1977.
The Independent on Saturday appeals to readers who have old pictures of Durban and other parts of the province to send them to us for consideration. If any readers are featured in the old picture, we will do our best to recreate the scene with them in it. Readers sending pictures digitally – images should be about 1MB – can address them to [email protected] If the pictures are in hard copy format, they can be posted to The Editor, Old Pictures, The Independent on Saturday, Box 47549, Greyville, 4023.