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was transferred to Butterworth to continue his missionary work. He was dedicated and

enthusiastic far beyond his strength, and his health broke down and in 1889 he had to take a
twelve months’ rest. He was plagued with indifferent health for a large part of his life despite

living to the ripe old age of eighty-two. He suffered from what appeared to have been a
respiratory problem, which caused him much discomfort.

In the year of his recuperation he travelled to England to marry Jane Elizabeth Atkins of

Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in 1890. (Fig. 3.2.) It is most probable that he had met her during
his years of training at Richmond Methodist College. She was a deeply religious young lady

who would have, no doubt, impressed young Edward. Their friendship and devotion to
Christianity for the ten years prior to marriage resulted in a long and happy marriage of some

forty-five years, although it bore them no children. Many hundreds of children in the

orphanages which they founded, however, gave them much joy and fulfilment.

On his return to South Africa Edward was appointed (with Jane) to Cedarville, Beaufort West

and Seymour to continue with missionary work.

The Observatory Methodist Church

He and Jane returned to Cape Town in mid-1893 and set up home at Lilliesleaf, Drake Street,
Observatory. Here Edward ran a Sunday School and worked tirelessly on building up a

sufficient Methodist congregation which they hoped would result in the building of a church.
In June 1893 the Cape Town Circuit, in recognition of Edward’s success, decided at their

quarterly meeting to erect a church building in Observatory Road (as the suburb was then

known). (Fig 3.3.) It was to provide a spiritual home for the growing number of Methodists in
this area. The ground was donated by Mr J. W. Wood and William Marsh agreed to

contribute £1 for every £2 raised. Gifts and donations in cash and kind were readily
forthcoming and this beautiful Gothic-designed church, on the corner of Milton and Wesley

Roads, was built to the style of church architect Charles Freeman, who in 1878 had designed

the Wesleyan-Methodist Church in Greenmarket Square. This famous landmark was based
on Gothic-Revival architecture which was popular for places of worship during the 1800s. It

was regarded as Freeman’s most famous design and the tall tower that still stands on the east