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The executed design had been preceded by a design touted by Moerdijk, his idea being that for of an ossuary* for the re-interment of the mortal remains of Piet Retief (1781-1837) and his company.° This first design was in the form of an Egyptianate hypostyle hall-like structure (figure 4). His proposal to relocate the remains caused public outcry and heated debate and lead to the conception of the monument being reconsidered as cenotaph® (Ferreira, 2009) he then proposing a monument along the lines of the Mausoleum’ at Halicarnassus.®

Figure 4 The executed design had been preceded by a design touted by Moerdijk, his idea being that for of an ossuary* for the re-interment of the mortal remains of Piet Retief (1781-1837) and his company.° This first design was in the form of an Egyptianate hypostyle hall-like structure (figure 4). His proposal to relocate the remains caused public outcry and heated debate and lead to the conception of the monument being reconsidered as cenotaph® (Ferreira, 2009) he then proposing a monument along the lines of the Mausoleum’ at Halicarnassus.®

Related Figures (7)

The procession of this grand ‘state funeral’ seems to have carried more importance than the ceremony itself. Because this reproduction was not issued at the Cape its accuracy is questionable. However is a good record of what could be expected for a funeral of such an illustrious personage.
The procession of this grand ‘state funeral’ seems to have carried more importance than the ceremony itself. Because this reproduction was not issued at the Cape its accuracy is questionable. However is a good record of what could be expected for a funeral of such an illustrious personage.
As the architect Gerard Moerdijk so rightly points out in his article on crematoria: “Life must end, and of course arrangements must be made in this relation” (Moerdijk 1918: 211). What is done with our earthly remains is, however, a consequence of cultural precepts. At the time Moerdijk spent on the Rand and an association with Frank Emley (1868-1938) (Fisher 2003: 30, 33), he published in English and in the English architectural press. One such published essay was his final design done at the Architectural Association (AA) in London for a Crematorium or Campo Sancto? (figure 5). Cremation is nothing new under the sun, and as far as history will take us back we find it in common use either alone or side by side with burial... Looked at from a purely sanitarian point of view cremation is undoubtedly the most perfect system of the disposal of the dead... As our population increases very rapidly and is concentrated around centers of industry, it becomes imperative to consider the question of public health...
As the architect Gerard Moerdijk so rightly points out in his article on crematoria: “Life must end, and of course arrangements must be made in this relation” (Moerdijk 1918: 211). What is done with our earthly remains is, however, a consequence of cultural precepts. At the time Moerdijk spent on the Rand and an association with Frank Emley (1868-1938) (Fisher 2003: 30, 33), he published in English and in the English architectural press. One such published essay was his final design done at the Architectural Association (AA) in London for a Crematorium or Campo Sancto? (figure 5). Cremation is nothing new under the sun, and as far as history will take us back we find it in common use either alone or side by side with burial... Looked at from a purely sanitarian point of view cremation is undoubtedly the most perfect system of the disposal of the dead... As our population increases very rapidly and is concentrated around centers of industry, it becomes imperative to consider the question of public health...
It is my wish and desire that on my death my body shall be embalmed and enclosed in a Teak coffin (with inner steel cover) and that I be buried in the said vault by a Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church (2004: 24). I can say without reserve that he is the best stone mason in the Union. He has done different large stone works for me and his work is masterful (2004: 24).
It is my wish and desire that on my death my body shall be embalmed and enclosed in a Teak coffin (with inner steel cover) and that I be buried in the said vault by a Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church (2004: 24). I can say without reserve that he is the best stone mason in the Union. He has done different large stone works for me and his work is masterful (2004: 24).
With the recent changes in the political circumstances and dispensations, urbanisation, mobility, and relaxation of doctrinal prescripts, the practice of cremation is becoming ever more prevalent in white Afrikaner Calvinist society. This has necessitated the addition of columbaria to places of worship such as, for example, Moerdijk’s Ooskerk in Clydesdale, Pretoria constructed in 1927 (Oxley 1927: 142) (figure 9). The Ooskerk is one of Moerdijk’s more striking and successful designs, in its Byzantine Revival form with the configuration of the seating across the diagonal as befits a preaching church, one argued by Moerdijk as well suited to the Calvinist traditions. The landscape and placing of the columbaria (1999, see ‘Garden of remembrance’ 1999: 2-5), by Maarten Venter, landscape architect, resonates with the geometries of the architecture in setting up axes, forming a focus and protective barrier to Kirkness Street. While post-modern in styling, this is sympathetic to the style and scaling of the body of the church. The positive architectural and landscape contribution this addition makes is here highlighted since it is seldom the case in the many examples discovered by the authors across the platteland. Figure 9 Garden of remembrance and columbarium, Ooskerk, Pretoria (Clarke 2009).
With the recent changes in the political circumstances and dispensations, urbanisation, mobility, and relaxation of doctrinal prescripts, the practice of cremation is becoming ever more prevalent in white Afrikaner Calvinist society. This has necessitated the addition of columbaria to places of worship such as, for example, Moerdijk’s Ooskerk in Clydesdale, Pretoria constructed in 1927 (Oxley 1927: 142) (figure 9). The Ooskerk is one of Moerdijk’s more striking and successful designs, in its Byzantine Revival form with the configuration of the seating across the diagonal as befits a preaching church, one argued by Moerdijk as well suited to the Calvinist traditions. The landscape and placing of the columbaria (1999, see ‘Garden of remembrance’ 1999: 2-5), by Maarten Venter, landscape architect, resonates with the geometries of the architecture in setting up axes, forming a focus and protective barrier to Kirkness Street. While post-modern in styling, this is sympathetic to the style and scaling of the body of the church. The positive architectural and landscape contribution this addition makes is here highlighted since it is seldom the case in the many examples discovered by the authors across the platteland. Figure 9 Garden of remembrance and columbarium, Ooskerk, Pretoria (Clarke 2009).
The most interesting example of a columbarium added to a church complex is to be observec in the Eastern Cape town of Elliot which lies nestled at the feet of the spectacular Winterberge This intriguing recent construction of a columbarium at the Dutch Reformed Church in this town (Louw"* and Louw" architects'® dated 1930) mimics the original allowing for the bodies of the deceased to rest in the simulacra of the body of the church (figure 10). One can wel imagine the relief of a building commission when it hit upon the idea of duplicating, at reducec scale, their beloved church building to house the ashes of their deceased. The most apt example of the acceptance of the practice amongst this grouping of peoples is the provision of a memorial wall and columbarium at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria (2009 by Maree Els Architects, Johan Els project architect) (figure 11), a fitting postscript to Moerdijks injunction of 1918 and the original idea of housing the remains of Afrikaners in this edifice. Ironically enough Moerdijk himself was never cremated but lies buried on the family farm Modderpoort, district Modimole (previously Nylstroom), Limpopo Province.
The most interesting example of a columbarium added to a church complex is to be observec in the Eastern Cape town of Elliot which lies nestled at the feet of the spectacular Winterberge This intriguing recent construction of a columbarium at the Dutch Reformed Church in this town (Louw"* and Louw" architects'® dated 1930) mimics the original allowing for the bodies of the deceased to rest in the simulacra of the body of the church (figure 10). One can wel imagine the relief of a building commission when it hit upon the idea of duplicating, at reducec scale, their beloved church building to house the ashes of their deceased. The most apt example of the acceptance of the practice amongst this grouping of peoples is the provision of a memorial wall and columbarium at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria (2009 by Maree Els Architects, Johan Els project architect) (figure 11), a fitting postscript to Moerdijks injunction of 1918 and the original idea of housing the remains of Afrikaners in this edifice. Ironically enough Moerdijk himself was never cremated but lies buried on the family farm Modderpoort, district Modimole (previously Nylstroom), Limpopo Province.
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