A case study on the windows of the Witbank Dutch Reformed church: what they convey about the changing religio-political context of this Afrikaans Protestant church

Abstract

The Witbank Dutch Reformed Church commissioned the author to remake some church windows, requesting changes in symbolism. This descriptive, explorative, qualitative case study retrospectively examines the formal, tectonic and symbolic meaning of the church windows when built (1920-1923, architect W.B. Anderson), altered (1961-1963, architect D.P. Kesting), and restored (2004-2006, glass artist: A. Janse van Rensburg), as an expression of this Afrikaans Protestant church community’s identity in the changing religio-political context. The method was to establish a context through a literature study, to collect data and then to describe the church history, the window designers and their approaches, and the windows in their architectural context, at each historic point. The meaning of the windows was explored. As the church’s identity changed in the religio-political context, the windows were changed to match new perceptions of meaning. By 2004, church laity had become significantly engaged in the meaning expressed in their windows, driving the change.