Onverganklike Rykdom by Dr Gerdrie van der Merwe VDM

Onverganklike Rykdom (Afrikaans Congregational History, 1993)

A Seventy-Fifth Anniversary History of the Dutch Reformed Congregation at Barkly-Wes, Northern Cape

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Onverganklike Rykdom: Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente Barkly-Wes 1918-1993
• Author: Dr Gerdrie van der Merwe VDM
• Publisher: Kerkraad Barkly-Wes, Barkly-Wes
• Publication Date: 1993
• ISBN-10: 0620176660
• Binding: Publisher's pictorial printed cloth-type boards with a cream spine printed with title and author. Issued without a dust jacket.
• Physical Format: Quarto-sized thin volume, illustrated with photographs, a map and drawings.
• Language: Afrikaans

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Good (G)
• Exterior / Boards: The pictorial boards carry a church photograph on the front and an old photograph on the back. The head of the spine is chipped and frayed with a small loss at the top, and there is a nick near the top of the front hinge. The tail of the spine is frayed. The bottom corner of the back board is bumped and worn with a small tear. There are small spots of surface loss at the lower left of the front cover and minor creasing along the edge of the back board. Overall the extremities are rubbed and worn.
• Interior: The contents and text pages seen are clean, white and legible. The map and illustration on page 3 are unmarked. There is a small brown spot on the title page near the lower left corner. The binding appears firm.
• The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued)

Synopsis & Historical Value

Onverganklike Rykdom is the congregational history of the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente Barkly-Wes, covering the years 1918 to 1993. It was written by Dr Gerdrie van der Merwe for the congregation's 75th anniversary and published in Afrikaans in 1993.

The narrative opens with the diamond-digging origins of the Barkly-Wes area, then follows early settlement and the events leading to the founding of the congregation. It also treats the early years of the congregation, including its separation into Reivilo and Barkly-Wes and the later founding of Delportshoop in 1945.

Its value lies in local church and diamond-field history in the Northern Cape. It is cited as a source in other Dutch Reformed congregational histories, and is illustrated with photographs, a map and drawings. It will suit collectors of Afrikaner church history, Northern Cape local history and Afrikaans gemeentegeskiedenis.

Author Profile: Dr Gerdrie van der Merwe

Dr Gerdrie (Gert Andries) van der Merwe holds a doctorate in church history from the University of the Free State and is known as a chronicler of Dutch Reformed congregations, having written more than fifty congregational histories. He served as minister at Smithfield, Kuruman and Bethulie, and farmed after his retirement.

Among his other congregational histories is Deur dit alles het die Here ons gedra (Bedford, 1979). In 2016 he received a special Andrew Murray award for his writing and his book collection.

Onverganklike Rykdom · Barkly-Wes gemeentegeskiedenis · NG Gemeente Barkly-Wes 1918-1993 · Gerdrie van der Merwe church history · Dutch Reformed congregation history · Northern Cape local history · Afrikaans church history book