Mr Harvey, a solicitor for the Witbank Colliery, which company owned all the land at the time, was also the solicitor for the Witbank Town Council. Miss Barry learned that the town was to be extended. She felt that it was most important to try and acquire ground for a church. She ascertained that Mr Tamplan-Lewis,the first manager of Witbank Colliery,had made a verbal promise to Father Kempf of a site for a church,but Mr Tamplan-Lewis had passed away.
Fr Kirk found that he could not attend to his duties and the demands made upon him and asked his " travelling parishes" to contribute towards the cost of a car. This greatly facilitated matters enabled him to visit Witbank every six weeks.
Mr Harvey was a great friend of Mr Addie, the manager of Witbank Colliery, who was also a large shareholder of the Company and an influential man. Mr Addie felt that a convent would supply a longfelt want. As soon as the new section of the town was proclaimed, the ground for the church and convent was allocated.
Bishop Cox who was then well over 70 had the added burden of establishing the church in Witbank placed on his shoulders. Then when the church was almost an accomplished fact Bishop Cox too realised that a convent school was also badly needed.
The foundation stone of the church was laid in 1921. The Catholic church was the first building to be errected in the new extention of the town.Bishop Cox laid the foundation stone for the first church in Witbank on 31 August 1921 which was finally dedicated to the honour of the Immaculate Conception by him on 18 December 1921. The first resident priest was an OMI missionary Fr de Hovre who had previously travelled from Pretoria to minister in Witbank. However his stay was brief as he had to return to Pretoria again for work among the lepers.
The following is an extract from the Witbank News dated 9 Sept 1921: It was a very impressive ceremony which took place on Wednesday 31 August 1921 when Bishop Cox with full Catholic ceremonial laid the foundation stone of the Roman Catholic Church now in the course of errection in the new township extention. Attending the ceremony a large number of residents of Witbank thoroughly representative of all religious denominations. Among those present were: the attending priest,Mr McInerney,the contractor; his daughter; his worship the Mayor and Mayoress,Clr and Mrs Eadie; and their daughter; the McKenna family from D.B. Colliery;Mr and Mrs Graham from Tavistock Colliery; Mr and Mrs Smith from Station Colliery;Mr and Mrs Lamb; Mr and Mrs Barry and family; the Portuguese Consul,Mr de Mello; Mr and Mrs Ziman; Mr and Mrs Ziman; Mr Wrefors of Witbank News; Mr and Mrs Christopher; Mrs Vial;MIss Adams;MrD. J Lewis; Mr English;Mr Salmon;Mr O'Shaughnessy;Mr Warren;Mrs Andersonand Mr and Mrs Hamlin.
Meanwhile, Mother Lucy,OP,of the Belgravia Dominican Convent,visited Witbank with Father de Hover and Sister Ligouri. She inspected the site and felt that it was the will of God that the Dominicans should establish a convent in Witbank.The buildings were erected and on the 26 May 1924 a party of sisters arived from King William's Town. On the 15 June 1924 the new Convent was opened by his excellency the Governor-General,the earl of Athlone and Princess Alice.
Today the convent continues to develop and maintain its proud and honourable record.A swimming bath,tennis courts,etc. adorn the grounds and a hall,which is regarded as the finest in the Eastern Transvaal,has been added to grace the original building. ( Thus reported in Witbank News Friday 25 October 1968)