Rev George Edwin Chamberlain 1925 – 1940

Mr Chamberlain, who had lost his wife in the flu epidemic of 1921, took over from Mr Roberts. Within 2 years the debt to Mrs Carter was finally paid off – and the church was then consecrated on the Sunday closest to St Luke’s Day 1927, by Bishop Karney.

The parish now extended as far as Halfway House. As the Rector’s transport was still a bicycle parish visiting could be a great challenge. After 5 years the parish bought the first parish car – a red fabric covered Baby Austin. The Rector, aged 62, learned to drive it on the road towards Pretoria. His two sons cleaned it, polished it, took it apart and put it together again in an effort to squeeze an extra mile per hour from it! One of these sons was also one of the’organ blowers’, charged with the task if keeping the organ in air whilst it was played. If they let it flag the effect they said was the same as a puncture in a set of bagpipes!

In 1939 Mr Chamberlain was made an honorary Canon of the Cathedral.

A snippet from the history of St Margaret’s Church in Witbank reads: “At the outset it was served by the Railway Mission, and it was possible for regular services to be held once a month. But a time came when the Railway Mission was unable to continue to serve the new parish; and in January 1909 the Middelburg Parish agreed to lend their Rector on two Sundays a month. The Revd. G.E. Chamberlain used to make the journeys - and one must realise they were more of journeys in those days than would be the case today.”