A short history

The Bible tells us that God works all things together for the glory of his name and the good of his people. Conventional wisdom declares it to be an ill wind that blows nobody any good. In our case, we can thank the 1914 collapse of the industry of the Ostrich Feather Market in Oudtshoorn, and the additional economic misery of the Great Depression, for the displacement of Lourens Botha Boshoff, whose family left Oudtshoorn in search of employment in the 30’s, and who eventually founded Kraaifontein Baptist Church in 1965.

1. A feather-rich hat from the period of the Ostrich Feather Market boom time! 2. A scene from outside the New York Stock Exchange as people gathered in response to the Wall Street crash of October 24 1929 which heralded the Great Depression! 3. Wale Street Baptist Church in Cape Town after it was sold in 1965, and before it was demolished. (The congregation moved to Orange Street during the time of Lourens Boshoff)
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​Lourens Boshoff studied for the ministry at the Bible Institute of SA , and from 1950 served at Rouxville Baptist Church, Bellville Baptist Church and Krugersdorp Baptist Church before his involvement with Orange Street Baptist Church in Gardens, Cape Town, where he was assistant pastor from 1962. Early in 1965, Pastor Boshoff received a call from the Dominee of the N G Kerk Kraaifontein , inviting him to begin a Sunday School for Afrikaans speaking children between the ages of 6 and 18 years in their church hall. The Sunday School was appreciated and grew to 100 children with 8 teachers within about 8 months. The Boshoff family moved to Kraaifontein and worshipped at Bellville Baptist Church where Dr Rex Mathee was their minister. He encouraged Pastor Boshoff to begin a Baptist work in Kraaifontein, but for a while Pastor Boshoff worked as an estate agent in the burgeoning northern suburbs, and cared for the Dutch Reformed Sunday School as he had been asked.

Leonora Boshoff (Lourens’ wife) started a ladies meeting serving the women of Duinefontein and Scotsville. These christian ladies made a significant impact on families of their community as they shared spiritual remedies for the problems of alcohol abuse, family violence and broken homes, and brought a measure of peace and harmony to the community that was unknown before. Pastor Boshoff began christian fellowship meetings in various homes in Windsor Park, Zoo Park, Windsor Estate, Bonnie Brook, Belmont Park, and Kraaifontein West and North. Word of mouth and tract drops spread the news, and soon a significant number of people were meeting house to house.

​Pastor Boshoff also bought 2 plots on the corner of York and Edward streets in Windsor Park, with an eye to gospel work. He and his friend Mr Grobbelaar drew up plans for a small building, and their plan was approved in April 1971.On 29 November 1971 the doors of Kraaifontein Baptist Church opened, and the church was formally constituted on 28 June 1972. Application for membership of the Baptist Union of South Africa was made, and granted that same year. Between 1972 and 1975, church membership fluctuated between 70 and 120, with many additional adherents attending worship and Sunday School classes. 

​Tragically, on 10 June 1975, Pastor Boshoff was run over by a bakkie, and sustained multiple head injuries. His wife phoned the church secretary, Mr Gaston de Reuck, the next day, to say that Lourens had gone to be with the Lord. After the death of Pastor Boshoff, Leonora Boshoff continued to serve the ladies of Kraaifontein Baptist Church for as long as she lived in the area. (She died in Gardens, in Oct 2004) The retired Reverend Jeffrey James offered to take up the pastorate as an interim measure, at no cost to the church, and to assist the church in finding a new pastor in due course. After a year and 4 months, Rev Tommy Rae accepted the pastorate at KBC.

​In the 44 years since then, Kraaifontein has grown and changed, and this little church has been served by a number of pastors. Our oldest church member was there in 1971 to see it all start, and he will attest to the faithfulness of God through periods of great difficulty, and periods of great blessing. May we continue to be faithful to God’s Word and be a blessing to the Kraaifontein community.

Soli Deo Gloria.