Kuils River church celebrates 40th anniversary

The Kuils River Community Church marked 40 years of existence on Sunday with a celebratory service at which the church's co-founder, Reverend Rod Botsis, was the guest speaker and sax player Tina Stodart performed.

“On May 6, 1984, the first constituted worship service of Kuils River United Church took place. The church had actually started earlier as a Sunday school in one of the member’s garages,” said Reverend Stephen Nicholson, a minister at the church.

He said members challenged Reverend Botsis to start the church as they were tired of travelling to Bellville Presbyterian Church every Sunday. The church met in various schools before moving to its premises in Amandelsig in 1997.

Anthony Snell, of Bellville was appointed as the church's first minister, but was later killed in a car accident, seven months after his ordination, said Reverend Nicholson.

“This was a great shock and a very painful journey for the congregation,” he said.

The name of the church was later changed to Kuils River Community Church. It has 150 active members.