United Congregational Church of Southern Africa

Bridgman Development Centre

The Centre is named after a former American Board Missionary, Rev JF Bridgman, who was sent by the United Christian Board for World Mission (UCBWM). Dr Bridgman was instrumental in establishing the Helping Hand Club in Jeppestown that catered for young women coming usually from rural areas to work in the city. He also helped to create the Bantu Men’s Social Centre on Eloff Street extension and worked closely with Dr Ray Phillips in setting up the Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Studies which turned out the first black social workers in the country, many of whom became famous leaders in our society.

Dr Bridgman also began a clinic to give medical care to migrant mine workers and others in need. His dream was to build a hospital but he died at an early age in 1925 during a visit to the USA. His widow worked hard to raise the finances that led to the opening in 1928 of the Bridgman Memorial Hospital in Mayfair which is now called Garden City Clinic, one of the best Clinics in Johannesburg. By the time UCCSA was born in 1967 the apartheid government closed the hospital for being a “black spot in white areas.”

The Central Region of the UCCSA South Africa Synod chose to honour this early pioneer of social activity, in naming the Centre after the activist and missionary-Dr Rev. F Bridgman.