History

Ramdeholl Memorial Church History Brochure A

Ramdeholl Memorial Church History Brochure B

In 1920, the Canadian Mission established a high school for girls in New Amsterdam, British Guiana. (The same site of the current Berbice High School). Clara Ramdeholl attended school here and after graduation, she joined the staff as a teacher at the Mission School. She taught there for several years before leaving for England in 1932 to pursue a career in Law.

Clara Esther Ramdeholl was admitted to the Inn at Middle Temple at the age of 23. She successfully completed her “Bar Finals” in 1939. Having achieved her goal, she was ready to sail home. She had not seen her parents in seven years and during her time abroad at law school her father, Robert Ramdeholl, had passed away. The call of home was tremendous. There was added incentive to return home since her brother, Dr. Cecil Ramdeholl, who had been on six month’s leave in England, was also required to return home.

On November 14th, 1939, accompanied by her brother, she sailed to Amsterdam on the S.S. Simon Bolivar. On November 18th, 1939, the Simon Bolivar was destroyed by German magnetic mines.

Both Clara and Cecil managed to board a life boat but were pitched out. They were able to get aboard another boat, but that one capsized. Cecil held her up for nearly two hours in the cold waters of the North Sea. He then realized that she had passed away and Clara’s body was lost to the sea.

Soon after Clara’s tragic death, the Canadian Mission approached her mother, Mary Ramdeholl. They had plans to build a Church and consulted with the family as they wanted to dedicate the Church in Clara’s memory. The family agreed and with funds raised by both the Canadian Mission and the Ramdeholls, the church was built in the school compound and a dedication service held on April 15th, 1940.

Clara Ramdeholl