Of all the churches that dominate the towns of the Sundays River Valley and the Great Karoo of the Eastern Cape, the one where the spirit moves most is in the little mission church of Enon.

This Moravian mission church was built in 1821 and is both humble and elegant, with whitewashed benches breaking up the yellowwood rafters, teak window frames and brass hanging lamps. On the pulpit is a cloth that says: "Our lamb has conquered".

Enon, which is about 20 minutes' drive east of Kirkwood on a well-maintained dirt road, has a fascinating history and is well worth a visit if you're in the Addo area.

The mission station was started in 1816 by Moravian brothers from what is today Slovakia.

There are quite a few of these Moravian mission settlements in the Western Cape and Genadendal was the first in the country.

Enon was the fourth and its early residents became the very first citrus workers of the Sundays River Valley in the late 19th century.

Enon: A Place of Song video documentary

The church speaks of a quiet spirituality but neither it nor the neat little village of Enon, with its lovingly tended gardens, are mere historical curiosities. The church is in daily use and its energetic young pastor, Reverend Heflin Houlie, is active in many spheres in the community.

A hallmark of the Moravian church service is its brass band, which in Enon is made up locals taught to play the instruments by older members of the community.

Some of the younger band members get together outside church to play their own tunes but the hymns that the band plays on Sundays thread through the generations.

Rev Houlie says there isn't one person in Enon who can't sing and who doesn't love to sing.

Whether it be the brass band welcoming the faithful to church on Sunday morning, workers on a building site singing a church hymn or youngsters having fun with a children's ditty, music fills Enon. It's what binds the people together.

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