Shaken and stirred

Walking along Long Street one is not really aware of the handsome church in the trees behind the railings ...

but a closer look reveals the Gothic Revival-style Lutheran church of St Martini (Deutsche Evangelisch-Lutherische St Martini Kirchengemeinde Kapstadt) complete with pentagonal Gothic balcony with filigree pinnacles. It was designed by Peter Penketh and built by him between 1851 and 1854.

One more view of it from the intersection of Long, Buitensingel, Kloof and Orange Streets showing the octagonal spire.

Recently this church was the setting for the opening of Deon Meyer's (the king of South African crime thriller writers) latest book Thirteen hours, where the body of a young American tourist is discovered - setting the scene for a real roller-coaster thriller ride of a book.

Information from Walking Long Street Cape Town by Desmond Martin (Struik).