South African Military History Society

Christ Church Mayfair Johannesburg


Photo: Derek Walker

Location
Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa
1 Park Drive, Fordsburg
GPS: 26 deg 12 min 34.51 sec S, 28 deg 1 min 6.74 sec E


Photo: Google Maps


Photo: Derek Walker

Significance
Christ Church served the parishes of Fordsburg and Mayfair from 1897 until it was deconsecrated and sold in June 2024.
Many of the fittings were donated to other Anglican churches.
It is not known what happened to the War Memorial.
The Memorial was created in 1949 and described as:

"The tablet would be 2 feet by 3 feet. The letters would be raised. There would be an ornamental border but no other decoration except a plain cross pattern and it would be made and cast in the foundry of Crown Mines and oxidised at the Municipal foundry. It is quite a handsome piece of work and not ostentatious."

The memorial was inscribed:


IN THANKFUL REMEMBRANCE
OF THOSE MEMBERS
OF CHRIST CHURCH
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE TWO WORLD WARS

1914   1918                  1939   1945
Archie Arnold 		   Carl Andersen
Douglas Estill 		   Maurice Bunn
Harry Hanson 		   Allan Chalmers
Arthur Hoggan 		   Robert Conohie
Sidney Honey 		   Donald Fietze
Wilson Honey 		   Edgar Gillman
George Pattenden 		   Arthur Little
Arthur Rives 			   Guy Marks
Edward Rives 		   Douglas McCrann
Harry Sycamore 		   Harry Metcalfe
Horace Sanderson 		   Alfred Vey
Walter Smith 		   Godfrey Ward
Sydney Sparkes                               
Hugh Webb                                       
Frederick Westley                            


Photo: Derek Walker

The Tabernacle and Sanctuary lamp commemorated Harry Metcalfe who lost his life in the Second World War. The brass plaque was inscribed:


THE TABERNACLE AND SANCTUARY LAMP
IN THIS CHAPEL HAS BEEN PLACED
HERE BY THE PARENTS OF
HARRY S. METCALFE
3RD ENGINEER OF THE NOVA SCOTIA
WHO DIED IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY
ON NOVEMBER 29 1942
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS 
THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS 

There were also two wooden panels that listed Consolidated Langlaagte Mines Employees who served in "German-West", "Overseas" and "German East" Contingents


Photo: Sarah Welham


Photo: Sarah Welham

South African Military History Society / scribe@samilitaryhistory.org