Paarl Museum is situated in the old parsonage of the Strooidak Church "Our collections are displayed in a Cape-Dutch home with a U shaped floor plan dating from the 18 century. The museum is situated on farm that was allocated in 1699 by Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel to Pieter Janz van Marseveen. The present building has over the years been used as a parsonage for the Strooidak Church, a home for the Thom family and a boys hostel for Paarl Gimnasium High School. In 1939 the building was restored and fitted out as a museum." Paarl Museum information pamphlet 2009
MINISTERS OF THIS PARSONAGE
Eleven ministers from the Strooidak Congregation lived in the original and present building (Paarl Museum). They were as follow:
Rev. Petrus van Aken
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(1715 - 1724)
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Rev. Lambertus Slicher
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(1725 - 1730)
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Rev. W. van Hertzogenraedt
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(1731 - 1736)
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Rev. Salomon van Echten
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(1738 - 1753)
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Rev. Petrus van der Spuy
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(1753 - 1781)
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Rev. Robert N. Aling
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(1784 - 1800)
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Rev. Petrus van der Spuy (Nephew of the former Rev. van der Spuy)
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(1806 - 1807)
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Rev. J.G.L. Gebhart
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(1810 - 1823)
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Rev. T.J. Herold (He let the parsonage while lived at Simonsvlei farm)
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(1823 - 1831)
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Rev. G.W.A. van der Lingen
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(1831 - 1869)
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Rev. Gilles van de Wall
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(1870 - 1872)
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One of the ministers was Rev. Petrus van der Spuy (1753 - 1781), who was the first South African born minister. The renowned Rev. G.W.A. van der Lingen played a fundamental role in the cultural as well as the educational development of Paarl.
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The museum contains various items that belonged to Rev. van der Lingen such as his bookcase modelled after the Bible's description of King Solomon's Temple and is about seven feet high. The bookcase was the gift from the congregation upon his completion of 25 years of service. Some additional items such as his Psalm book and personal items of furniture are also contained within the museum.
