Balancing Security and Hospitality

Yes, it is true: as a church, we have a specific plan to build a fence along the road boundary from the Military Camp corner to the Springfield corner. 

Hospitality thrives when there is security

Why we need a fence

It is not always easy to keep a sweet-spot in the tension between ‘security and freedom.’ Or, in our case, how do we reflect the (seemingly conflicting) values of safeguarding our children and young people while also maintaining an open-door approach of welcoming the stranger and sharing meals with outsiders? I am sure you would agree that it may not always be straightforward, and so we would like to share a bit of our reasoning on this plan of action and invite you to participate as you are able.

The main reason for building a fence is to provide greater security for all of us and our children in particular. We will continue to welcome others into our space and reach out to the community, though in a more controlled way. The Alpha Course, Word on the Street meals, Project Exodus and other regular ministries such as Children's Church, Youth Group, Cell groups, Men's and Women's breakfasts and Sunday services are all very close to our hearts. Not to mention our guests who regularly hire our facilities for: dance lessons; examinations; addiction recovery groups; weddings; parties; funerals to name just a few.

Up to now, people have been able to come and go on the property any time of day or night and the only parts that are secure are the buildings and the Garden of Remembrance. In the last few years, unfortunately, we have noticed that it has become something of a ‘hot-spot’ at night for drug use, commercial sex work and criminal behaviour. This has been a concern to those staying on the property and to our St John's Road neighbours. We have been particularly concerned to find a way to mitigate the risk for our children, especially as they can wander off the property (or others wander in) on Sunday mornings or during Youth group on Friday evenings.

The plan

A number of alternatives have been considered, and the Buildings Committee has put a lot of work into examining these and making some proposals. The pastorate has noted the risk posed to safeguarding this open boundary and, under advisement from the Buildings Committee, have made the decision to erect a palisade fence. This is in keeping with the architecture and surroundings of our historic site, and will be visually appealing, allowing site through the fence.

The fence will be similar to the Garden of Remembrance fencing

Fence along the main boundary with gates as indicated at the two entrances

The revised 2025 cost for the fence is R319,000 and includes an electric gate for cars at the driveway entrance and a pedestrian gate on the north/ Springfield end. The church have raised R270,000 to July 2025 and Springfield School and another St John's Road neighbour have contributed significantly towards this amount, for which we are so grateful. The school are signing an agreement with us together with their contribution, allowing them to make ongoing use of our car park whilst also offering to cover the fence with their cctv security network. We believe this will greatly reduce the daily security vulnerabilities for not only St John's but also our neighbours in the area.

We hope to do complete the fence installation in August 2025, and invite you to participate with us.

So how can you help?

Donate directly towards the fencing project. Please don't reduce your regular pledge towards the church, but rather give to this project specifically if you are able to give over and above what you already give. Account details can be found on our Giving page, and the bank reference is [NAME_Fence] 

Share ideas and Participate in our fund-raising initiatives. In 2024 we held Heritage Dinner and High Tea events, as well as Kalky’s fish frys, and a raffle... We need more hands on deck with planning, organising and promoting events. If you'd like to be involved contact Tracy-Jean Rossouw (082 761 1487)

Share this information with anyone who you think would be interested in investing in this project. If you know an organisation or company that we could send a letter to in this regard, please let the office know. 

Pray for the safety of all who come to St John’s and all that it takes to create safe spaces. Pray also for the provision of funds for the erecting of our fence.

Contact Kathy de Smidt, our Child Protection Officer, if you'd like to know more about our Child Protection Policy and the steps we are taking in this regard. (kathy@stjohns.org.za)

Information on the fence proposal supplied by James Cooper and the Building Committee