From the Vestry
Chapel Council Members
St Patrick-on-the-hill Annual Report 2025/26.
Interdenominational Services
The chapel serves as an interdenominational community church for the Hogsback community and visitors to the mountain. Clergy from the Anglican Church, the Dutch Reformed Church (Afrikaans services), and the Baptist Church conduct services on Sundays at 10:00.
St Patrick-on-the-hill Annual Report: 2025/2026
It is with great humbleness & gratitude that I report back on this past year of enormous blessings and grace from our Heavenly Father. We certainly experienced what Paul wrote to the congregation Timothy was pastoring: “If we are faithless, God remains faithful & true to His Word & His righteous character” (2 Tim 2:13).
In March last year, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of this Chapel. Various ministers led services throughout the month, focusing on God’s protection & guidance during this period. – The gala dinner at King’s Lodge, with Trevor Webster as our guest speaker, was indeed a time of remembering the journey of St Patrick, 1935 to the current day.
The Mindfulness morning retreat, led by Paul and Colleen Sturruck, during the week, following the Gala dinner, was well attended & very meaningful.
Services
Sunday morning services. Every Sunday morning at 10h00, there has been a message and communion, alternating between Anglican, Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), and Baptist denominations. A huge thank you to each servant of God, who brought God’s Word in an understandable & clear way to the congregation.
Special services during the year. – Lent, from Ash Wednesday through to Easter, was a time of reflection, drawing near to our Father, listening to His voice and His instructions. – Easter morning was a service of celebration, where believers gathered to worship, celebrate communion and enjoyed fellowship afterwards with Hot Cross Buns & tea.
Christmas Carol Service. We called it “Carols in the Forest”, as we had, for the first time in 10 years, permission to use the Arboretum for this special event. However, rain and a power outage forced us to gather in the Chapel with a full congregation of 60+ people.
Monday Bible study. A group of 6-10 ladies gathers for this very blessed hour each Monday, moving from home to home. Lively discussions and reflections on various topics (the Bride of Christ, Forgiveness, the various names of God) were some of the topics covered. We often watch well-known speakers online or videos on specific topics. At present, we have embarked on the book of Revelation… a difficult book to understand. Still, with plenty of resource material available, we are learning & understanding it little by little.
Music & Worship: A special thank you to our two musicians, Lynden and the piano, and to Helen for her violin. These faithful ladies bring a special touch & dimension to the hour of worship. Linelle & Tim (piano & guitar) added a lovely variation to the normal music team. It was sad to say goodbye to them towards the end of last year.
Vestry Matters
Council Meetings: We meet once a term to discuss Chapel matters regarding the smooth functioning of the life of St Patrick. Several council members opened their homes for these meetings. A heartfelt “thank you” to each of you who served with loving hospitality by hosting these meetings.
Fundraising: –
During the Open Gardens in Spring, cake & tea/coffee were served in the Chapel garden, on Fridays & Saturday mornings. Many garden visitors stopped by, spent some quiet time in the Chapel, walked the Prayer Walk and enjoyed the hospitality of our kind ladies. A donation box on the tea table brought in a substantial amount each weekend.
Music concerts.
Dr Mark Jennings from the UK performed on his guitar to a keen audience. The concert’s income was divided between the artist and the Chapel.
The Quartet from Rhodes University performed in the Chapel and certainly brought beautiful sounds to our Chapel. They were so enthusiastically received and promised to visit us again this year.
Weddings: The Chapel hosted eight weddings.
Wall of Remembrance: Two granite plaques were fitted.
Grounds & General Maintenance: Garden maintenance had been outsourced for the past 2 years (2024 and 2025). The council decided to end the contract and revert to using 2 gardeners for 1 day each week to ensure neatness & regular pruning/replanting of flowers. The chapel garden is visited daily by visitors from all over South Africa and from overseas. It’s probably the best-visited site in Hogsback. We cannot afford the shabby surroundings of the Chapel. If anyone would like to be part of this project, please contact Barry or me. One council member is always present on these days to provide guidance or ensure the gardeners have what they need to achieve the best results.
Cleaning the Chapel: Our once-a-week cleaning lady comes every Thursday afternoon. We have been very satisfied with her duties and would recommend continuing in this vein.
In Closing: It is a huge privilege and pleasure to serve our Father in His house in these different ways. It is not because we have to… but rather because we want to… out of gratitude for ALL that He has done for us. If anyone would like to be more involved in any way, please come and speak to me. There is always a need for an extra pair of hands.
Prepared by:
Norma Fivaz, Chapel Warden:
19/02/2026
St Patrick-on-the-hill Report for the Hogsback Community Group
Interdenominational Services
Although the chapel belongs to the Anglican diocese of Grahamstown, it hosts interdenominational Christian services for the wider Hogsback community and visitors alike. Currently, there are clergy from the Anglican Church, the Dutch Reformed Church (Afrikaans services), and the Baptist Church.
Activities
St Fix-It Day
On 14 March 2026, the congregation took part in St Fix-It Day at the chapel. Congregants performed maintenance tasks on the building and the gardens.
Prayer Walk
On 17 March 2026, the congregation relaunched the Prayer Walk through the chapel’s gardens on the chapel’s 91st anniversary. Visitors can participate in a time of spiritual reflection at each of the four prayer stations. The prayer stations along the walk follow the ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication) prayer model.
A guide to the prayer model is available in the chapel’s foyer to help pilgrims focus on God as they seek his guidance.
Friends from further afield are welcome to download the prayer guide from the website (www.stpatrickonthehill.org.za) and to join the St Patrick’s community in a time of contemplation.
Women’s Day Outreach Event
On 25 March 2026, St Patrick-on-the-hill, in collaboration with Faith Cares, presented a Women’s Day event at the chapel for women of the greater Hogsback community. By cooperating with organisations such as Faith Cares, the St Patrick-on-the-hill congregation makes a positive impact on the lives of the greater Hogsback community.
Easter 2026
The St Patrick-on-the-hill congregation celebrated the Holy Week with the Hogsback community and visitors from 29 March 2026 to 5 April 2026.
The week began with Palm Sunday on 29 March 2026. The Passover Meal was held on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. Maundy Thursday (commemorating the Last Supper) was observed on 2 April 2026 and Good Friday on 3 April 2026. Rev Barry Wittstock, the resident Priest, and the St Patrick-on-the-hill congregation express their sincere thanks for the privilege of holding Holy Week in the chapel.
Weddings and Baptisms
The chapel hosted a wedding and one baptism during the report period.
Visitors to the Historic St Patrick-on-the-hill Chapel
Because of its unique and historic character, the chapel attracts many visitors. Most visitors come from the Eastern Cape, but some are from the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Australia. This highlights the chapel as a tourist destination in the Hogsback community.
Planned Activities
The congregation plans to participate in the HUG Community Day as an outreach event.
The congregation will present the following activities during Christmas in July festivities:
25 July 2026: Carols by Firelight; Christmas service on 26 July 2026.
About the St Patrick-on-the-hill Lilies and the Holy Trinity.
The chapel emblem was designed by Carol Nieth and takes its inspiration from the Lilium Longiflorum, also known as the Hogsback lilies. This choice highlights the local flora and connects the logo to the natural beauty of the Amathole mountains.
Spiritual Significance
At the centre of the emblem is the Trinity symbol, representing the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. This element is fundamental to the Christian faith and serves as a reminder of its core beliefs.
The Hogsback Community
The white rings incorporated in the design signify the unity of the Hogsback community, emphasising togetherness and shared values among its members.
Bible Study
Weddings and Baptisms
Are you planning THE big event -saying your nuptials or baptising your child, hereby making a promise of love and commitment?
Celebrate this joyous occasion at St Patrick-on-the-hill chapel. The chapel seats 70 people.
Please get in touch with Lynden Wittstock on 084 608 0212 for costs and procedures.
You can complete this application form to hold a Christian ceremony at St Patrick’s.
Please print this application form (in .png format) and return to Lynden Wittstock
