A while ago I photographed the remains of this old church and wondered about its origins. Whilst visiting the Garrison Church in PMB, I met Earle Larson, who enlightened me and sent the old image of the church. (See below). Alongside are images I took and some of the few remaining graves.
This church was built on the farm Mount Pleasant at a cost of 800 pounds, and consecrated on October 1903 by the Bishop of Natal, the Right Revered Samuel Baines. The locals had until that time worshiped at the Mooi River ,St Johns church, but wanted their own church closer to their own community. This small church of 90 square metres was nearly destroyed in a snow blizzard in in May 1905, bur rebuilt by August of the same year.
St Mary’s was used until 1940, when it was closed down due to a diminishing congregation, and sold to a private farmer. Parts of the church were salvaged and used to build St Mary’s in Bruntville, and the font given to a church in Greytown. Ref: Earle Larson
A few graves remain on the site and are shown here. The site was overgrown and more graves may exist.
St Mary’s Church Middelrus in its heyday – Image supplied by Earle Larson
St Mary’s Church as it looks now (2017)
St Mary’s Church Middelrus – the grave of John Henry Wallace
St Mary’s Church – grave of Mary Elizabeth Button
St Mary’s Church Middelrus – grave of C.F.J. & M. Cope – died 1903
St Mary’s Church Middelrus – grave of Sydney Little aged 4 days – 1912