The Dutch Reformed Church in Springbok, also known as the Klipkerk, was founded in 1850 as the 42nd congregation in the Dutch Reformed Church in the settlement of Bowesdorp, south of Springbok, which was abandoned with the relocation of Kamieskroon in 1923 and where only a few ruins remained for decades. Although the core of the congregation is in the Northern Cape town of Springbok, the congregation falls under the Synod of the Western and Southern Cape and lends its name to the most northwestern ring of this Synod which also included the diamond mining town of Oranjemund in Namibia until it was transferred to the NG Church in Namibia in 2013.https://www.gemeentegeskiedenis.co.za/ng-gemeente-namakwaland/
The congregation is the mother congregation of the NG churches in Namaqualand. After the membership in the mining towns of Nababeep and Aggeneys declined sharply, so that these congregations could no longer support their own pastor, their church council entered into an agreement with the mother congregation, in terms of which the minister(s) of Namaqualand remained responsible for Simon van der Stel (Nababeep) and Aggeneys.T.N. Hanekom: Die gemeente Namakwaland : 'n Eeuwfees gedenkboek (1850–1950). NG Kerkraad Namakwaland, 1950. p 77-80.
Background The first cattle farmers began to settle around 1750 on the edge of Little Namaqualand (to distinguish it from Great Namaqualand across the Orange River in what later became South West Africa) in the so-called Hardeveld. In this arid region, the water-rich Kamiesberge mountains attracted the most attention.Plaket in kerkgebou met besonderhede oor die oprigting van die kerkgebou. URL besoek op 12 Januarie 2015. From around 1760, one farm after another was given out and the settlers gradually tamed the area. 'n Foto van die kerkgebou op Google Maps. URL besoek op 17 Februarie 2015.
Ministers Johannes Stephanus Hauman, 1870–1881 Willem Johannes Conradie, 1886–1895 Willem Siebert Edward Rörich, 1897–1908 (expelled) Jacobus Arnoldus Retief du Toit, 12 February 1910–1918 Willem Petrus Steenkamp, 1919–1926 (resigned) Willem Lucas Steenkamp, 1928–1935, 1944–1950 Adriaan Hendricks Stander, 1951–1958 (after which he accepted his emeritus position) Johan Christiaan Lamprecht, 1957–1961 Gideon Stephanus Jacobus Möller, 1958–1962 Lodewikus Petrus du Preez, 1963–1977 Matthys Michielse (Thys) Agenbach, 1965–1975 (after which first pastor of daughter congregation Boesmanland until his retirement on 21 November 1988) Dirk Johannes Venter, 1967–1972 Steyn McCarthy, 1977–present Hendrik Jacobus Greeff, 20 January 1984 -? Pieter Steyn, – ? Nicolas Jacobus Louw (Nicol) Smit, 2009–present
References
Sources Dreyer, eerw. A. (samesteller). 1932. Jaarboek van die Nederduits-Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika vir die jaar 1933. Kaapstad: Jaarboek-Kommissie van die Kerke. Gaum, Frits (hoofred.) 2008. Christelike Kernensiklopedie. Wellington: Lux Verbi.BM en Bybelkor. Haywood, J.J. 1944. Die Afrikaner-Gids 1944. Bloemfontein: Die Afrikaner-Gids (Edms.) Bpk. Kotzé, dr. D.A. 1981. Van Roodezand tot Gariep. Die 150-jarige bestaan van die N.G. Gemeente Clanwilliam 1826–1976. Clanwilliam: NG Kerkraad. Olivier, ds. P.L. (samesteller), 1952. Ons gemeentelike feesalbum. Kaapstad en Pretoria: N.G. Kerk-uitgewers. Schoeman, B.M. 1977. Parlementêre verkiesings in Suid-Afrika 1910–1976. Pretoria: Aktuele Publikasies. Smit, ds. A.P.. 1973. Ligglans oor die Berge. Eeufeesgedenkboek Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk en Gemeenskap, 1873–1973. Barkly-Oos: NG Kerkraad, met die medewerking van die plaaslike stadsraad. Smit, ds. M.T.R. Smit. 1953. Gedenkalbum Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk Ugie, 1903–1953. Ugie: Die Kerkraad.