The Central Methodist Church, also known as the Central Methodist Mission or Metropolitan Methodist Church, is a large and historically important Methodist church located on Greenmarket Square in Cape Town, South Africa. The church has played a significant role in the growth of Methodism in South Africa. In 1988, the Metropolitan Church merged with Buitenkant Street Church, forming the Central Methodist Mission.[2]
| Central Methodist Church | |
|---|---|
| Central Methodist Mission | |
 The church from the north-east | |
 | |
| 33°55′22″S 18°25′10″E / 33.9228°S 18.4195°E | |
| Location | Burg Street, Greenmarket Square, Cape Town |
| Country | South Africa |
| Denomination | Methodist |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | SAHRA identifier: 9/2/018/0125 |
| Architect(s) | Charles A.S. Freeman |
| Style | Decorated Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1876 |
| Completed | 12 November 1879 |
| Construction cost | £17,700 (£2,273,000 in 2024)[1] |
| Clergy | |
| Minister(s) | Alan Storey |
History and activism edit
The church is known for its active advocacy efforts[3] such as its yellow banner campaign that seeks to rise awareness of important social issues and as a site of refuge.[4] The church windows were damaged by police water cannons during the anti-apartheid Purple Rain protest in 1989. In October 2019 the church was a refuge site for protesting refugees during the Greenmarket Square refugee sit-in.[5]
- Yellow banner campaign
A yellow banner on the church in remembrance of the Marikana massacre.
A yellow banner on the church criticizing the South African Arms Deal.
A yellow banner on the church celebrating Nelson Mandela.
Architecture edit
The church is the second oldest building on Greenmarket Square after the Old Town House located opposite it. Construction started in 1876 and completed on 12 November 1879[6] at a cost of £17,700 (equivalent to (£2,273,000 in 2024).[2] The architect was Charles Freeman[6] and the building contractor was Thomas Inglesby.[7]
Representing high-Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, the basilica-type church features a distinctive lean-to roof and a tower with a spire.[6] It is a listed heritage building with the SAHRA identifier of 9/2/018/0125.