"Elim - Moravian town" a Elim Travel Page by morne

Elim, situated in the southern-most region of Africa is one of the most attractive and picturesque of the surviving old-time South African mission stations, only inhabited by members of the Moravian church. Founded in 1824, it has changed little since. Beautifully thatched, white-walled little cottages, charmingly varied in their rooflines and the styles of their eaves and windows, face onto a furrowed and figtree-lined main street. The entire charming village is a declared National monument.
On 12 May 1824 Bishop Hallbeck of the Moravian Church acquired the 2 570 ha farm Vogelfontein (bird fountain) from Johannes Schonken. On Ascension Thursday, 12 May 1825, the name was changed to Elim (palm trees) and a mission was established around the original farmhouse built in 1796 by a Huguenot named Louis du Toit. Neat little cottages were built to house the community, mainly freed slaves. A substantial church became the pivot of the settlement. Today it forms the heart of Elim, palm trees still grace the church yard and the only monument to commemorate the freeing of the slaves in 1834, can be found here ~ many of whom found safe haven in Elim.