Page 275 - The Diary of A. H. W. Behrens

132
1928
From Bethanie I had often held services under trees for the workers in Brits and, since I now lived in Brits, I planned to build a chapel here and to start regular services and also a school for the children. In 1927 I had sufficient bricks made and burned on the erf which I had bought from Friedenthal for ₤ 300 and then built a chapel that cost about ₤ 500 and that was completed in 1928 and could be consecrated with great participation from Brits and Bethanie. It was the first church
in Brits. The whole erf was fenced in, I had a bell brought
in from Germany, bought pews here, pulpit and lectern were bought here etc. I got an indigenous teacher and had up to 50 school children and church attendance on Sunday was good. On Christmas Eve we handed out gifts and the church was full. The workers from all congregations came. And this continued for many years until I handed over everything, worth about
₤ 900, to the Mission Director Wickert of the Hermannsburg Mission and the whole work was transferred to the missionary in Eben Ezer. Chapel about ₤ 500, erf ₤ 300, bell ₤ 30, pews ₤ 25, harmonium ₤ 15 etc.