The booklet entitled "The Lord Added to the Church" - the story of the Frere Road Presbyterian Church which was distributed in a Discipleship Campaign in August 1960, was prefaced with these words:-

It was through the faith and foresight of the Rev. A.S. McPhee of the Berea Presbyterian Church that cottage meetings were first held in this area and subsequently through the generosity of an elder of the Berea Church, the late Mr.F. Jehan who erected and donated a wood and iron hall on the corner of Frere Road & Hewitt Road, that regular services were held and a Sunday School established. The first services were held in the hall on the 19th April, 1903, and the seating capacity - 100.

In 1905 the first Session was constituted under the Rev. James McKenzie, who had oversight of the work at Frere Road and at Greenwood Park. The first Communion Roll contained 83 names.

In January 1906 the Session "considered it very desirable to form a Ladies Association in connection with Frere Road", and in February 1906 there is a record of the first member joining the church by Profession of Faith - a Miss Jessie Ross -later Mrs Jessie Nicol, who died only a few years before the opening of the new church in 1959.

The Ladies Association became the Women's Association - later Day & Evening Branches, the latter having evolved out of the Junior Women's Association. The Women's Association has over the years since 1906 worked tirelessly for Frere Road Church. They held the fort through two world wars and many names spring to mind when considering wonderful workers who gave their all when it came to fund-raising, knitting, sewing and baking for the Annual 'Sale of Work' (later the Operation Outreach fete) - not to mention their exceptional catering capabilities.

They come into their own in three years' time when the Women's Association celebrates the centenary of their inception - thanks to the 1906 Frere Road Session!

The fortunes of the little Frere Rd congregation fluctuated. In January 1916 there were 52 names on the roll. Following the resignation of the Rev. McKenzie in December 1916, there was great difficulty securing the services of a minister. It is interesting to note the Session Minutes of 27.6.1917, when one of the elders had this to say:-

"What is wanted is a thorough revival to stir the hearts of the hearers so that we might be filled with God's Holy Spirit, but of this there is no sight, and we seem to be surrounded with utter indifference, and there seems to be an absolute lack of spiritual life".

It is recorded that the Session Clerk, a Mr leRougetel, tendered his resignation from the offices of elder, Session Clerk and Treasurer, as well as Sunday School Superintendent and Treasurer.The lowest ebb in the congregation's history was in April 1918, when only 13 members partook of Holy Communion. Still without a Minister, the congregation relied on Rev. McPhee for such assistance as he could render. From 1919 -1925 Mr Henry Oldfield was conducting the services - first as a layman. He was ordained as an elder at Frere Road and later ordained as a Presbyterian Minister. When he resigned in 1925 the membership stood at 60.

After the call late in 1925 of the Rev. James Craig, M.A., B.D., who had arrived in Durban from Salisbury - for health reasons, we find the Frere Road Church entering into an era of expansion and growth.

Rev James Craig was Frere Road's

third minister from 1925 to 1943.

In the year after his arrival, the church moved from Hewitt Road to the corner of Frere and Willowvale

A call was addressed to the Rev. A.R. de Villiers, then minister at George in the Cape, and he was inducted to the charge on January 7th 1944. There was an enthusiastic response to the new ministry and in June 1944 the first increase in seating accommodation was made with the removal of the platform in the large hall, and the installation of a pulpit and choir enclosure.

This now became the Church. In 1946 a new wing was added to the building,increasing the capacity from 180 to 280. The enlarged building was solemnly dedicated to the worship of God as a memorial to the sacrifices made on ourbehalf in the Second World War.

In 1944, the first manse was purchased at 9 Edmonds Place. By 1949 the total debt incurred in the purchase of the manse and the enlargement and refurnishing of the Church had been reduced to 1000 pounds (in 2002 the approximate equivalent would be R14000). In March 1949, the minister and his family moved into a new manse at 32 Deodar Avenue and it is recorded that largely through the generosity of the Women's Association no further debt was incurred.

By the end of 1949 plans had been completed for the further enlargement of the church premises and a sum of 4500 pounds (R63 000) was borrowed, the 1000 still outstanding. The church and hall were enlarged and an additional schoolroom built. The new church was then named the James Craig Memorial.

In December 1953 a beautiful pipe organ was installed at a cost of 1600 pounds (R22 400). The first instalment was a legacy from a lonely Scot, whom the  Minister had visited in hospital prior to his death. The balance of the money cameby way of gifts in memory of Mr J. Milligan, Mrs D. Knight and Mrs. M. Tough, all of whom had given such faithful service to the Lord at Frere Road.

The congregation celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1954 with a beautiful church - seating approximately 400 people, a suitable hall, a comfortable manse, a large Sunday School and an enthusiastic congregation of 500 members. The total debt at that time after a capital expenditure of over 12000 pounds was approximately 2600 pounds.

By 1957 it was apparent that the Frere Road congregation needed greatly improved facilities for every department of the work. The site at 339 Frere Road was purchased from the Durban Corporation for 1500 pounds.

All other indebtedness having been repaid, the congregation decided to go forward in faith with a new debt of 20 000 to build the present beautiful and modem church with a seating capacity of 550. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs deViliers on the 14 December 1958 and the new sanctuary was opened and dedicated on 19 May 1959. Session's Minute records that the church was packed to utmost capacity.

On that occasion Rev. P.G. Gordon, M.A., a former Moderator of General Assembly preached the sermon and dedicated the new building with the Moderator of Presbytery Dr Calvin Cook presiding. The Communion Roll stood at approximately 750 members and it is recorded that at the first Communion Service held on the 7 June 1959, 739 members and visitors partook of the Sacrament.

In the years since 1959 the Church has had three Senior Ministers and several Assistant Ministers also. We think of the Rev. Louie van Blommestein, Matthew duPreez (now in Pinelands Presbyterian Church) our own James Stevenson (now retired from the Stellenbosch Church) Rev Roy Mallinson, the late Sid Smuts & our very own Gordon Melrose. It was also at about this time that many young men who had been influenced by the Rev. Dr. deVilliers decided to enter the ministry.

The Rev. Alan Maker (Minister of St Columba's- the largest Presbyterian Church in South Africa) is one of 'our old boys', David Wanless & James Elias (now firmly ensconced in the Bible Society); Frere Road can be justly proud of them all recognising that Andre de Villiers was their 'father' & mentor.

Towards the end of 1968 Rev. Michael Wenning was called as Colleague and Successor to Rev. A.R. DeVilliers. The Wenning family arrived from America in October 1969 and Rev. Wenning was inducted at Frere Road on 10 November 1969. In August 1970 after almost 27 years of faithful service to the Frere Road Congregation Rev. de Villiers left to take up the position of Subject Inspector in Religious Education with the Natal Education Department.

Rev. Michael Wenning paid tribute to Rev. De Villiers for his long and faithful service to Frere Road and for the wonderful foundation that had .been laid. He also said that he had succeeded a great man and a personal friend who had left a lasting impression for the Lord.

From then on, the Rev. de Villiers returned to Frere Road on many occasions. He assisted with the services for three months after the departure of Rev. Wenning at the end of 1976, and for another three month period in 1981 during the Sabbatical leave of Rev. C. R. Jacobson.

When Rev. Dr. de Villiers retired from the Ministry in March 1982, it was at Frere Road that he was presented with a citation of thanks on behalf of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa. He and his beloved wife Mary were dearly loved by all at Frere Road & it was Mary who laid the present church's foundation stone in 1959. Attached to this 'history' is the first sermon preached by Andre after the home-calling of Mary. It was not too long afterwards that he himself heard the call and he & Mary were once more together again surely having heard the words from our Lord' Well done - thou good and faithful servants - enter thou into the joy of the Lord'.

Andre himself said that after he had gone, the large jacaranda tree in the Frere Rd Memorial Garden would be remembered as 'the deVilliers tree' but the official memorial is the lovely fountain (at the foot of the stairs of the Lytch Gate) donated by the deVilliers family - all of whom now live in other parts of the world. Under the ministry of Rev. M.H. Wenning the church saw expansion and growth, as well as many innovations.

Rev. Clive Jacobson was called from Durbanville in the Cape and inducted at Frere Road on 12 May 1977. It was with joy and anticipation that the Jacobson family was welcomed to Frere Road & a third son was born to them some two months after their arrival in Durban.

Read on for an update on our 'now' manse family. During the Ministry of Rev. M. Wenning, Frere Road engaged Miss Marge Morrison as Pastoral Assistant & Marge was set apart on the 7 October 1973 and later ordained to the eldership in June 1976. Those whom Marge assisted in the eleven years she served as Pastoral Assistant will attest to her dedication and devotion to duty in her service to the Frere Road congregation.

Mrs Kath Howard joined the staff as Church Secretary on 14 June 1972 and later succeeded Mrs Glenys Wood who had taken oyer from Marge Morrison as Pastoral Assistant. Kath returned to England after her retirement and is still in touch with Frere Road members - many of whom she has welcomed into her home as guests during their visits to her part of the world. Our present Pastoral Assistant needs no introduction to the Frere Road Family.

Elaine Dow has served Frere Road faithfully and well, over many years and inmany and varied capacities. She continues to do so.

The Session of the Frere Road Congregation has seen many changes in the last 25 years. In 1959 there were 12 elders on the Session. In 1967 the Session was doubled in size from 14 to 28 to keep pace with the growing congregation and by1974 Session comprised 39 elders. Of the 12 elders of 1959 only Mr Ray Sandison (now well in his eighties) remains, as a non- serving elder. In 1981 Frere Road saw the first women from the congregation elected to the eldership viz. Mrs Elaine Dow and Mrs Mary Dunwoodie. In the period 1981-82 15 new elders were elected to the session bring its strength up to 32. The Frere Rd Session at the time of writing, numbers 59, serving approximately 1000 people.

Here, mention must be made of Mr. "Frere Road" - Mr Willie MacGregor who served this congregation as Session Clerk so faithfully for a period of 22 and a half years. Mr Mac was elected Session Clerk in August 1958 after ill health forced another faithful soldier and servant of Christ, Mr Guy Widdicombe to resign. In March 1981 Mr Albert Ussher succeeded Mr. MacGregor as Session Clerk serving for a period of 10 years. Ian Morgan succeeded Albert, followed by Gordon Hibbert and then Mrs Alida Buter, the first lady to hold this office.

In August 1973 Frere Road lost a faithful member and elder in Malcolm Kerr, and the attractive Lytch Gate at the top of the stairs to the car park was erected to his memory by his wife Mary and family. Frere Road has been fortunate in the extreme in the calibre of its Chairmen of the Board of management and in its Church Treasurer. In August of 1973 Frere Road lost another faithful member, and Treasurer of 20 years - Mr Vic Gordge.

Vic's widow and her twin sister are still faithful members of Frere Road and nieces of the very first minister the Rev. James McKenzie.

Here we must also acknowledge the long and dedicated service of Miss Jean Ednie as Board Secretary. Jean Ednie had filled this position for a period of 40 years when she retired in 1981. On her death, the substantial Jean Ednie bequest enabled the church to purchase the house right next to the Craig Memorial Hall.

This was primarily for a Youth Centre.

The young people of Frere Road Presbyterian Church have always been very  active - some more so than others! A strong Youth Group bodes well for the future & many people who hold office today can say that they met their life's partner in the Youth Group. The Sunday School has always been well-attended and the young people have been encouraged to go into teaching those younger than themselves.

During the time of his superintendency Malcolm Ross instituted the July Vacation Bible School which would run for a week at a time with a holiday programme arranged for the attending children. This meant that older young people were in attendance to see that the younger ones were entertained besides being taught and cared-for. Over three hundred children attended the first of these!

Mary de Villiers started a Junior Choir which really could sing(!) and some of these younger people later joined the church choir. Zona Poole ran the Girls' Auxilliary which met during the week and catered for pre and early teen girls. The young people over the years have called themselves many different names.

We've had the JYPS (Junior Young Peoples' Society) the FRYPS (Frere Road Young Peoples' Society and just a little older than the JYPS) while the older and working young people called themselves the WMA (We Meet Again). It was an amalgamation of the latter two that resulted in the Mdalas being formed.

This was a particularly strong group very active in the late 'fifties and 'sixties. Our present Youth Group upholds the high standards set by their predecessors and we are very proud of them and trust that they too will look back fondly to happy times spent together in a Christian environment.

They have the added advantage of strong leadership and a whole house in which to meet and we are indebted to the late Jean Ednie for her fine gesture in leaving behind a legacy for furtherance at Frere Road and for the house which also stands as a fitting memorial to a lady who served her Lord long, well and ably. When the opportunity occurred in 1969 to sell the property at the comer of Willowvale and Frere Roads for R55 000, the congregation was able to erect a modern hall complex adjacent to the new Church.

The foundation stone was laid on 14 October 1969 and the new complex was opened and dedicated by Rev. Robert Mc Samson on 27 April 1970. In 1971, the large upper hall was named the James Craig Memorial Hall & the lower, the deVilliers hall. With these modern facilities available many changes came about in the life and work of the Frere Road congregation.

The morning service previously held at 11.00am now started at 10.00am to coincide with Sunday School classes and in May 1970, after-service fellowship teas were introduced. A Sunday creche was established to enable families with babies and toddlers and older children to worship in the morning. The trend towards increased attendances at the morning service has continued, many folk finding the morning service for transport and other reasons, to be more convenient. We now meet at 9.30am and although the morning service still remains the best attended, the 5.00pm Praise & Worship service is growing, meeting the needs of the young people and the young-at-heart who worship in a more relaxed manner. The people of Frere Road Presbyterian Church are loving, caring, friendly and mostly joy-filled (!) worshipping God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and if the reader is not affiliated to any branch of the Church of Jesus Christ and would like to belong to 'our family' please come along - we always have room for one more!

Join us on a Sunday, either at 9.30am or 6.00pm and don't forget to tell us that you are 'new'!

'Commercials' over we continue:-

Some time back Bible Study formerly held on Friday evenings was changed to Wednesday evenings. A ladies Bible Study was also started in 1972, and a class for domestic workers in the area was started to teach them to knit and sew. All of these are still in operation and our senior citizens have not been forgotten either - meeting once a month for a chat over a cup of tea, besides some form of entertainment. It is clear that many activities require the services of many dedicated members and Frere Road has always, over the past one hundred  years, been very blessed in having many such people.

The year 1969 also saw the sale of the manse in Deodar Avenue and the purchase of a new manse at 75 Willowvale Road. This has been altered and renovated over the years and now provides our Minister and his family with a comfortable home.

During the ministry of Rev. Michael Wenning, Planned Giving was introduced. The initial commitment in 1971 was for a three year period. Since 1974 commitments have been reviewed annually and through generous giving we are able to maintain our staff and buildings and not rely on an annual fete to pay our assessment to the Presbyterian head office.

The annual fete still takes place and is probably the main fun-filled yet functional highlight of the year. Best of all we are in the happy position to be able to give ALL the money away via Operation Outreach.

In October 1972, Operation Outreach came into being - replacing the Christian Action Committee of Session. During the first year R4 450 was allocated and this amount rose to R17 000 in 1983. This fund assists needy individuals, special appeals and also various charitable organisations which exist to help support the incapacitated and under-privileged.

In the year 2001 the Operation Outreach Fete raised the record amount of R84 000. Thanks be to God and the generosity of His people! In November 1977 a mere six months after the arrival of Rev. Clive Jacobson, the upper story of the complex was destroyed by fire!

This was indeed a sad day in the life of the Frere Rd. congregation, but led by an enthusiastic and energetic young minister, the congregation soon had rebuilding and restoration well in hand, and the Craig Memorial Hall was again in use by May 1978.

The laminated beams salvaged from the fire were used in the construction of the Ross Dow Memorial Hall. Ross Dow - better known as "Mr Sunday School" and his wife Elaine served together in the Primary Department of the Sunday School for 25 years.

Ross Dow was Overall Sunday School Superintendent at the time of his death in December 1974 and had also faithfully served as an elder for 15 years. With Malcolm Ross tiling on the position of Overall Sunday School Superintendent, Elaine continued with her work as the Primary School Superintendent after Ross's death, and now holds the post of Pastoral Assistant.

The Ross Dow Memorial Hall was opened and dedicated on the 1 December 1978, followed by a braai and get-together on the church apron. The Frere Road Sunday School was fortunate in having as its Secretary for a period of 40 years (!) Miss Ivy Gray. At a presentation made to her in December 1974 Ivy Gray was thanked for her faithfulness and her dedication.

In 1978 and again in 1982 alterations were made to the church. The organ console was moved from its position in front of the pulpit and re-located directly in front of the choir & the pulpit itself was altered slightly. The seating capacity of the choir stalls has been increased twice.

Following the launching of an organ fund in 1972 the organ was enlarged in 1978 and re-dedicated during a recital in November 1978. A further major overhaul took place in 1992/93 and the organ will probably need on-going, costly maintenance.

Frere Road is fortunate to have had some excellent organists - none the least of which is our present one Mr Raymond Campion. Raymond, together with Eileen Mililigan our Choirmistress and the choir itself, lead the music worship most ably, giving the congregation much joy, particularly with the cantatas produced by Eileen at Easter & Christmas. We recognise here all those who have gone before over one hundred years, giving of their time and talents to enhance the worship through music and song. Particular mention should be made of the McCullough family.

Can those of us who sang in the choir in the 'fifties ever forget old Mr Stanley McCullough and his dear wife Eva? He was the choirmaster and she the organist whose little legs were a bit short to reach the pedals! After a particularly disastrous choir-practice he would bang the baton on the music-stand and announce in his Irish accent "That was a catastrophe!" After all it had to be right - "The Lord inhabits the praises of His people".

Other alterations to the church include the installation of louvre windows downstairs and dormer windows in the gallery. A 'cry-room' was added at the rear of the church for the convenience of mothers and their little ones. This is the same room which, this year will be made into a small chapel, with pews and other furniture being donated by the International Sailors' Society's as a centenary gift to their mother church.

Early in 1984 the church waiting room was completed. With its pleasant outlook onto a little garden complete with fountain, this now houses the church library and tape library.

In South Africa, the year 1983 will go down in history as the year of the drought and at Frere Rd as the year of the tapping of 'Jacobson's Well'! This natural water source has been harnessed to enable the church garden to be adequately watered and to reduce the quantity of water drawn from the Corporation supply. At well-attended Communion Services on the 10 June 1984 the congregation celebrated 25 years of worship in the present sanctuary. Rev. Dr. A.R. deVilliers preached in the morning and the Rev. Clive Jacobson in the evening. These services fell on Pentecost Sunday and were also appropriately our Annual Thanksgiving Services. Fellowship teas were held in the Craig Memorial Hall after both services and keen interest was shown in the photographic display depicting people and events in the life of the church.

Just as Frere Road had its beginnings as an off-shoot of an established church in the area viz. Berea Presbyterian, so the congregation was able in turn to play a major part in establishing the Stella Congregation. The Stella Congregation had its beginnings in a Sunday School started under the auspices of Rev. Dr deVilliers and was run by Mr. Ian McFarlane on the lawns of the home of Mr and Mrs Beckworth in Levenhall Road. After the church site was purchased a hall/church was erected in Nov. 1956 and the Rev. S.D. Smuts, then Assistant Minister at Frere Road, was given specific responsibility in the Stella area.

After 2 years, the cause had grown so lustily that a new congregation - the Stella Presbyterian Church - was established with Rev. Smuts as its first minister.

In 1957, Rev. de Villiers started services in the village hall at Umbogintwini. This work also flourished and on 11 September 1960 the new church building was dedicated - to be known as the McDonald Memorial Church, in memory of the late Mr A.B. McDonald whose family had - given generous assistance towards the cost of the building. 

With the help of Rev. D. G. Melrose, then Assistant Minister at Frere Road, Rev. de Villiers continued to hold services at Umbogintwini until their first Minister - Rev. Alan Maker - a Frere Road 'old boy' - was appointed on 1 January 1967.

Thus it is that Frere Road has taken on the 'mother' role and Berea and Addington Presbyterian the 'grandmother' and 'great- grandmother' respectively. We owe so much to those who have gone before - giving of their time, talent, enthusiasm and foresight - not to mention their wherewithal and to those who have so faithfully recorded all that has taken place over the years. Their reward has surely been in heaven!

As to the present - Frere Road continues to flourish and we gratefully acknowledge the efforts of our 'now' minister the Reverend Clive Jacobson who, at the time of writing has completed 25 years at Frere Road. (See Gertie Anderson's tribute at the end of this history).

How true it is that he had his 'Baptism by Fire' and dug 'Jacobson's Well' but apart from these out of the ordinary events he has numerous other talents. He preaches well- if he didn't would we have over 1000 members?

His administrative skills are excellent to which the well-run offices bear witness. He has a sense of humour - will we ever forget the blue napkin flying from the top of the fir tree for all to see when his youngest son Adrian (now 25) was born. He has presided over alterations to our buildings and knows how to 'strike a bargain' (as his name might imply!). He has organised painting parties (which wall did you do?) and the lovely gardens which surround the church came into being through his initiative. All this and much more apart from ministerial skills are attributable to Clive and Frere Road Presbyterian Church is the richer for having had him follow on from the inimitable 'greats' we have had before.