Graaff-Reinet has a number of historic buildings and churches in addition to the main listings from the town on this website.

These main listings can be found on the following links:
Groot Kerk
Graaff-Reinet Town Hall
Old Drostdy

Other interesting places include:

St James’ Anglican Church
The oldest original church building in use in Graaff-Reinet is St James’ Church situated on Somerset Street. The original church consisting of the present nave was designed by Sophy Gray, built in 1850 and consecrated by Bishop Gray, the first Anglican Bishop in South Africa. The chancel and sanctuary were added in 1868 and consecrated in 1870 whilst the entrance porch was added in 1874. The interior fittings date from different periods; the pews from 1885, the alter and reredos from 1891 and the pulpit from 1935. After the First World War the chancel screen was carved and installed in memory of those who had served in the war. The previous organ chamber was converted in the late 1970s into a Lady Chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The Methodist Church (Trinity Methodist Church)
In 1871 the foundation stone of the Trinity Church on the corner of Caledon and Bourke Streets was laid and on 15 September 1875, the official opening of the church took place. The church was established at the behest of Reverend John Edwards of Somerset East in order to cater to the spiritual needs of the small Wesleyan Community in Graaff-Reinet. In 1894 it was necessary to enlarge the building and at the same time, the school room was built and named Dudley Hall in memory of Mr. B.F. Robert’s son.

The Dutch Reformed ‘Nuwe Kerk’
The Dutch Reformed ‘Nuwe Kerk’ or new church was established as an independent Dutch Reformed Church congregation in 1927. The split away from the established Dutch Reformed Congregation in the Mother Church largely centered on the controversial minister Reverend Naude who refused to preach in Dutch and rather ministered to the congregation in Afrikaans. The split pitted liberals against conservatives, wealthy landowners and farmers against poor plot dwellers and ‘back-streeters’ and those who embraced Afrikaans against those who regarded the new language as ungodly. The corner stone of the building was laid in 1929. The two congregations merged in 2018 again and the building is now occupied by the Freedom Church.

The Roman Catholic Church
The present-day Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Bourke Street, between Somerset and Middle Streets, was consecrated on 23 April 1957 and the High Altar on the 24th April 1957. First-class relics of St Pius X and St Maria Goretti are buried in the altar. It would appear that there was an older church on this site as mention is made of Rev Father Lennon’s remains being placed in the R.C Church of the Im. Conception by Rev. Father J. Coffey assisted by the members of the congregation and on 6 September 1870 an instruction was received by Father Coffey to pay off the mortgage on the property. On 25 June 1894, the Convent next to the church was opened with seven sisters.

The Gereformeerde Kerk
The original foundation stone for this building situated on the corner of Bourke and Middle Streets was laid on 9 July 1913.  After undergoing many transformations including being used as a cinema the building was reconsecrated on 21 May 2006. The present bell constructed on the lines of an old “slave bell” was cast in 1969.

Jan Rupert Centre
The Neo-Gothic building in Middle Street was originally a place of worship for the Manatees, a refugee Sotho tribe that had fled south across the Orange River in the 1820s. In 1870 improvements were made to the building. As the membership numbers dwindled and the remaining members joined the Parsonage Street Congregation the building was for years used as a storehouse and eventually fell into disrepair. Through the intercession of Dr Anton Rupert the property was restored and officially handed over to the Save Reinet Foundation in 1986 when it was renamed after Dr Rupert’s late brother Jan.

John Rupert Theatre
The actual date this building was built is unknown. The design is of a straight-sided gable with a small belfry at the apex within an ochre façade. The building was known by the coloured community as the Great London Church and was consecrated by Dr John Phillip of the London Mission Society, in whose name the property was transferred, in 1847. In 1920 the Society sold it to the United Congregational Church. The original pulpit can still be seen in the foyer. Dr Anton Rupert acquired it in 1969 and after restoring it donated it to the Graff-Reinet Town Council in eternal Trust.

The building is named after John Rupert, the father of Dr Anton Rupert. After serving the town as an art gallery the building was converted in a Little Theatre in 1980 by the Graaff-Reinet Round Table. The theatre is also used by touring companies for their productions.

Graaff-Reinet Club
Established in 1875 as a social club for gentlemen, the Graaff-Reinet Club is the third oldest Club in South Africa after Durban Club (est 1854) and the P.E. Club (est 1866). Having been completed in 1886 at a cost of £3300, the building holds the distinction of being the oldest in this country to be designed specifically as a club for gentlemen. The building was designed by Mr Henchman and construction was overseen by a Mr Borrell from Uitenhage.

Mr. C.A. Neser, the first chairman, played a pivotal role in the early development of the Club. (Mr. Neser served on the Church Council and contributed to the construction of the “Groot Kerk” by supplying stone from his quarry.) The Club’s balustrades mirror those of the Church. The building originally featured a Snooker Hall, Reading Room, Cards Room and Bar, whilst the northern wing served as the steward’s residence.

During the Anglo-Boer War, the Club extended honorary membership to officers of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards. At the peace celebrations in 1902, British officers fired shots into the bar counter, the repairs of which remain visible today. In a gesture of apology, the officers gifted the Club with a clock which adorns the bar.

The Club has consistently evolved to meet the needs of its members. The tennis court was transformed into a bowling green before being repurposed as parking space to accommodate the arrival of the motor car. A significant milestone in the Club’s history saw ladies being admitted as members in 1996. The former steward’s residence now houses the Coldstream Restaurant and the Willie Deane Hall, once the Snooker Hall, serves as a venue capable of seating one hundred guests.

The Club caters for both traditional and modern tastes, offering a blend of historic and contemporary amenities. The current Snooker Room caters for local championships whilst a Pool table draws a younger crowd. The Club is equipped with conference facilities making it ideal for weddings, functions and events. The grounds provide a picturesque setting with splendid views of the Groot Kerk and surrounds. With it’s rich history and impressive facilities, the Graaff-Reinet Club remains the focal point of the community.