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corner of Greenmarket Square is the only example in Cape Town of a high Victorian town

church. (Freeman may well have designed the Observatory Methodist Church.)

The Observatory Methodist Church is a lasting tribute to Marsh’s great work on the Cape

Town Circuit. It was opened on Sunday 4 November 1894 at a total cost, including fittings,
of £2,400. The vestry followed some ten years later and the Wesley Hall, built alongside the

church, was completed in 1901, as was the Sunday School building. The manse was built

after these buildings had been constructed. Marsh was appointed the first Minister of the
Church in acknowledgement of his evangelical work in building up a sizeable congregation

prior to the construction of the church. He held this ministerial post from 1894 - 1900.

The Marsh Memorial Home

It appears that Jane had a warm and loving relationship with her father-in-law and cared for
him during his later years. It was her suggestion to him, that a home for orphans, similar to

that of Dr. Stephenson’s Home for orphans in London, be established in Cape Town. William
Marsh readily adopted Jane’s suggestion. He gave his whole-hearted support to what would

later become his legacy and in order to fulfil this idea he amended his Will.

On 2 May 1901, William Marsh died, aged 78, at his home, Main Road, Rosebank. He was a
widower as Frances had passed away, aged seventy-nine, on 30 January 1899. As per his

father’s will Edward, acting as sole executor, proceeded to fulfil his father’s wish in which he

bequeathed proceeds from the sale of part of his estate to be applied for the founding and
maintaining of a house for white children upon the same principles as those of Dr

Stephenson’s Home in London. It was originally called The William Marsh Memorial Home
(later changed to The Marsh Memorial Home.)

(In 1994 the Will was amended by rule of the Supreme Court to remove the word ‘white’ to

conform with the new Government’s policy of open schools.)

In August 1901 local architects Tully & Waters were appointed to draw up plans for the

Marsh Memorial Home on land purchased, with monies from William Marsh’s deceased
estate, on Woodside Estate, Rondebosch. Later that year Edward and Jane sailed to England