The All Saints Church

About The All Saints Church

Ladysmith is set on the banks of the Klip River and is most famous for its part in the 118 day siege during the Anglo Boer War, and for Ladysmith Black Mambazo - a male choral group that sang with Paul Simon in his album, Graceland, who have won numerous awards and three Grammys.

But there are other historical buildings in Ladysmith about which visitors may not know much, but are definitely worth adding to their itineraries. One of these is the Anglican All Saints Church.

The beautiful old stone church, built in 1902 from cut flagstones from a quarry in the area, is best known for the beautiful tablets it houses in its transept. On these tablets are the names of some 3000 British soldiers who died during the siege of Ladysmith during the Anglo Boer War.

The transept of a church is the transverse part which lies across the main body of the building. In churches in particular, a transept is set crosswise to the nave to form the shape of the cross.

The other notable aspect of the church is its stained glass windows, two of which show War and Peace. But to view the church you will need to make an appointment.

Originally the church was known as St Johns and was used quite extensively by the British during the Anglo Boer War. Archdeacon Barker, who arrived in Ladysmith in 1857 and remained vicar until 1887, continued to give sermons throughout the siege. It is even said that he picked up a shell and dunked it into a tub of water, preventing its explosion and saving lives in the process.