Colonial and Confessional Encounters in South Africa

Erik A. de Boer is a professor emeritus in Church history at the Theological University Utrecht (formerly Kampen), the Netherlands. Research associate of Free State University in Bloemfontein, South Africa. His research interests include John Calvin, Genevan and French Reformation, Guy de Bres, Church history of the Low Countries, National Synod of Dort (1618–1619), and Jewish history. His previous publications include The Genevan School of the Prophets: The Congrégations of the Company of Pastors and Its Influence in 16th Century Europe (2012).

• Preface ixIntroduction: The ministry of the Church of Good Hope, 1665–1685 11 Joan van Arckel, ‘first resident minister’ 61.1 Two ships, a young minister, and a sick comforter 71.2 The publication of a disputation 101.3 Johannes Hoornbeeck 111.4 The conversion of American Indians 131.5 A student’s social network 141.6 The Indies or the Cape? 151.7 ‘Church books’ 161.8 A Church with no name 181.9 The commander’s spirituality 201.10 A rhythm of Church services 231.11 Joan van Arckel’s legacy 251.12 A window on Van Arckel’s youth 262 A mass baptism of slave children 392.1 Pierre Casier, another Hoornbeeck student 412.2 V.O.C. directors and the classes: conflict over competences 422.3 Called to baptize 432.4 Wagenaer’s weight 472.5 Principle and practice 483 Johannes de Vooght and the expected permanent minister 553.1 De Vooght, the Amsterdam twins 563.2 A minister’s work 563.3 The Baldaeus incident 583.4 Jacobus Burenus: who decides for the Cape? 614 Petrus Wachtendorp and the West Indies Company 674.1 Cajana at the Wild Coast 684.2 The Maasbommel mystery 704.3 Second chances at the Cape 734.4 ‘No false testimony’ 744.5 Christian discipline 764.6 The sale of slaves 775 Protest voices against slavery 835.1 Ethics of commerce 845.2 Catechism class 855.3 A pamphlet from Zeeland 875.4 Manumission in the early years 936 Adrianus de Vooght’s tour of duty 996.1 The other De Vooght 996.2 Pastoral practice 1016.3 Baptismal practice 1026.4 Communicants 1046.5 Childcare for Koina kids 1056.6 Marriages and guests 1066.7 The reverend slave owner 1077 Rudolph Meerlant, ‘And the lot fell upon him’ 1137.1 Warship minister 1147.2 Casting lots 1147.3 Election of elders and deacons 1157.4 The Cape’s orphans 1177.5 Baptismal instruction of Roman Catholic parents 1188 Petrus Hulsenaer: Taking stock of the flock 1228.1 Commander Johan Bax and Meerlant’s last report 1228.2 Experience on outposts 1238.3 Last will of a young couple 1248.4 ‘About 70 members’ 1258.5 Again, baptism of slave children 1288.6 Stumphius: an unexpected appearance 1308.7 Baptismal discrimination? 1328.8 Collegial communication in Latin 1339 Johannes Overney, a seasoned servant (1678–1687) 1409.1 Disputation on divine providence 1409.2 A schoolteacher as minister of the West Indies 1429.3 The pull of the East Indies 1449.4 The policy of baptism revisited 1459.5 Van Reede’s reform (1685) 1499.6 From refreshment base to colony 1539.7 Caring for the slaves and the colony’s future 1559.8 Baptism reconsidered 1569.9 Pastoral care of visiting Jesuits 1579.10 Overneij’s passing 15810 Sisters, wives, widows 16610.1 Elisabeth van Arckel, ‘schoolmistress’ 16610.2 Elisabeth Pauw, daughter of the VOC 16710.3 Maria Prignon, a proud young widow 16810.4 Anna Meranus, claiming her right 16910.5 Catharina and Anna de Vooght, family of the brothers 17110.6 Women in Rudolph Meerland’s life? 17210.7 Rebecca van Baelbergen’s last will 17210.8 Barbara (Berber) Simons Rottinga, minister’s widow and farmer’s wife 17410.9 Balance 17511 Deacons, the rich and the poor 17911.1 Collections in Church 17911.2 The liturgical form for the deacons 18011.3 Church finances equal poor relief 18111.4 The Deacon’s Bookkeeping 18111.5 Silver for the Lord’s table 18511.6 Masters of the orphan chamber 18711.7 Pieter van der Meerhoff and Eva’s children 18911.8 Deacons, between Church and Company 19212 Conclusions: Configuration of the Christian Church at the Cape 19812.1 A congregation 19812.2 The Church as a public body 19912.3 The quality of the ministers 20112.4 The Cape, Batavia, and the classis Amsterdam 20212.5 Elders and deacons 20412.6 Slavery 204Appendices 209A.1 Letter Joh. Van Arckel to consistory Batavia, 25 August 1665 209A.2 Letter Joh. Van Arckel to consistory Batavia, n.d. [… December 1665] 210A.3 Excerpt of letter by Rudolpus Meerland [to consistory Batavia], 16 September 1676 211A.4 Table: Member of the civil council and the consistory, 1665–1687 211A.5 Last will of Petrus Hulsenaer and Rebecca van Baalsbergen 215A.6 Estate of Barbara Rottinga, widow of Rev. Johannes Overneij 218Bibliography 223Index 232