User:Pierre Simond reference/sandbox

By M.A. de Klerk

Pierre Simond was born circa 1651, Nion in Dauphiné, southern France. He studied theology at Die, not far from where he was born. Pierre Simond became minister of the church in Montjoux near Dauphine. After the recall of the edict of Nantes, he moved to Holland. In Holland he leads die Waalse Gemeente in Zierikzee.

In 1687 he is chosen to be the French refugees` minister in South Africa. Pierre Simond and his wife, Anne de Brault were married in February 1688. At the age of 36 Pierre Simond arrived in the Cape, South Africa where he found the Huguenots in low morale.

He had a special passion for spiritual work and education among the children of the region.

During March 1689 his eldest daughter was baptised in die Kaapse Kerk.

Pierre Simond worked tirelessly to establish a French church in the Bergrivier valley.

His efforts were rewarded on 12 December 1694 when 48 morgen of land - north of Babylon`s Toren - was donated to the congregation. Here a small church was erected an in this little church (referred to as a "hokje" - dutch for box) from 1695, he loyally proclaimed the gospel. In 1716 the church was destroyed after storm water caused severe damage.

Pierre Simond was also a poet and translated the Psalms of David into French. This he did over a fourteen year period, while on his farm Bethlehem near Franschhoek. This is the 1st literary work produced on South African soil. His work was published (possibly at own cost)in 1706 and is an Africana rarity as only one exemplar exists in the library of Genève.

On 25 June 1697 he preached on John 4:23-24 in the Cape. He repeated this sermon on 17 October 1706 in Die Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam. This sermon is of historic value since it is the only sermon from 17th century Cape which is preserved in print.

During the month of April 1702 Pierre Simond delivered his final sermon on African soil and later that autumn month to returned to Europe.

Pierre Simond suffered disappointments upon his return to Holland. He preached only on occasion in Amsterdam, where he had settled.

At the start of 1709 he was appointed 2nd minister in Ryssel (Lille) and four years later he relocated to Den Haag.

After this Pierre Simond`s record becomes unclear. The possibility exists that he might have gone on to Germany, it is also possible that Pierre Simond could have made his way to England.

We know that he passed during the year 1713. 1 February 1726 his widow applied for the baptism records of their children.

Simond Private Schoolhttp://www.simond.co.za/ is an independent Christian school situated in the region Pierre Simond ministered in the Western Cape, South Africa. The school carries his name (as does the settlement named Simondium) and legacy of Christian education.

Pierre Simond was a "force morale" and a "force intellectuelle".