In May 2019, a group of friends traveled to Israel, exploring the footsteps of Jesus Christ through deserts, villages, synagogues, and the Garden of Gethsemane. This journey sparked a question: Is there still a place of worship in Pretoria where people can silently commune with God, comparable to the ancient synagogues or have churches become so busy that there is no place for quiet meditation? 

 

Various synagogues were visited and the longing for a place that would offer the same solitude grew. While we traveled, long conversations with the head of Doxa Deo (Jean Symons) explored the fundamental principles of worship, the needs of modern society, the rhythm of modern-day Christians and the buildings they shared as a community. The idea turned into a dream and eventually evolved into a vision. 

 

Imagine a chapel dedicated to worship and meditation. The silent sanctuary where one could hear the whispers of thought, a place removed from the realities of everyday life. The vision grew and suddenly it wasn’t just a building but it also included a garden that would emulate the sacredness of the Garden of Gethsemane as a place of prayer and contemplation. 

 

Initial discussions centered around practicalities regarding positioning since it needed to be centrally located to really serve a community. The dream was for it to serve society at large and thus would be interdenominational but it needed someone to take custodianship of it. Doxa Deo was the most practical partner offering both infrastructure and management competence, but more importantly they shared the vision and supported the underlying principles. Doxa Deo, under the guidance of Jean Symons, really threw their considerable weight behind the vision and suddenly we had a perfect spacial opportunity in the heart of Brooklyn.

 

Neo Architects, led by the talented and seasoned architect Dries Verbeek, were brought on board to access the limited space available in line with the vision, and as part of the design process (following extensive research), they presented their initial proposals. Although their designs were radically different and more modern than any synagogue in Israel, or traditional church, the team made a strong case that their interpretation of my vision touched the need of society. I came to understand that the old-world spaces, albeit romantic, was not an ideal solution for modern-day society. Their conceptual design solution was so well researched and the reasoning so rational and aligned with the overall vision, that I was immediately convinced that they were heading in the right direction. They were challenging traditional thinking and presenting solutions to problems I was not aware of before. Financing a project of this nature is always a challenge, but as one would expect it was miraculously provided for, so budgets were not just approved but were increased and the project was underway.

 

The passion of the architectural team was immediately evident as they went through the initial design stages. They integrated design requests while shaping it in ways we couldn’t have imagined. The design and subsequent construction was extremely challenging, but the design continued to evolve as the project progressed. The continued involvement of the architectural team was critical at several infliction points, but they expertly and with professionalism navigated the treacherous construction landscape and eventually delivered something very unique. 

 

Practically the chapel offers seating to almost 50 people with the garden providing space for larger outdoor gatherings in separate prayer groups, individuals or even small weddings. Mature olive trees were relocated with great difficulty to bring with them a feeling of permanence and something of the old world.  Renowned sculptor, Anton Smith, loved the vision and partnered with the team to permanently display the most incredible artwork “Crouching Man”, depicting a man in worship and devotion. The piece now forms the center and is the main focus point of the garden. Water flowing from the garden turns the building into a floating ark, and brings with it a sense of peace and communion with God.

 

Several months later I parked my car under the lush trees in front of the Doxa Deo Brooklyn gate. Wanting to see how the garden settled in, whether the building held up through the rainy season and, in all honesty, looking for a few quiet minutes while I contemplated something personal, I walked through the doors. I was surprised to see several silent individuals sitting with bowed heads widely interspersed through the small chapel. I took a seat towards the back and closed my eyes. My senses reeled at the silence that suddenly wrapped around me like a comfortable blanket. The rustling of leaves and water was the only sounds. I spent several minutes in deep prayer and when I opened my eyes I caught a last glimpse of a young man smilingly leaving through the door. 

The vision was now a reality.