Hansie Cronje told Rhema Church pastor Ray McCauley he had misled a a cricket bookmaker into believing he was willing to throw a match but he had not done so.
This was revealed by Rhema Bible Church spokesman Ron Steele after he was questioned by the Cape Argus about the contents of the nine-page statement faxed by Cronje to McCauley early on Tuesday.
Cronje has been advised by his lawyers not to talk to the media as the Indian authorities are investigating criminal charges against him.
Steele, who would not disclose the full statement made by the fallen cricket star, said Cronje had explained to McCauley he wasn't involved in match-fixing, but he had accepted money from a bookmaker and he had lied to the bookie about being willing to throw a match.
"He confessed to Pastor McCauley that he had made an error of judgment," Mr Steele said.
It is understood that Cronje had told the United Cricket Board he had accepted between $10 000 and $15 000 from a London bookmaker before the recent triangular series involving the Proteas, England and Zimbabwe.
Steele also described how, wracked by guilt, Cronje prayed for God's forgiveness before telephoning his pastor to confess that he had shamed himself and his country by taking the money.
Steele said that the former Proteas captain's conscience had overwhelmed him and he had needed to "unburden himself".
"Cronje revealed the allegations had become much more serious and that, as a Christian, his conscience had made it impossible for him to go on denying that nothing had happened," Mr Steele said.
Cronje had initially denied any involvement after the allegations were made by the Indian police at the weekend.
Steele said the full content of the fax would not be made available as it had been a "confession between a priest and his parishioner".
Steele said Pastor McCauley had been the unofficial Proteas chaplain, and had held bible study sessions.
Cronje, overcome by conscience and the mounting pressure of the allegations, turned to him on Tuesday.
"Hansie prayed for forgiveness. He confessed that he had made an error in judgment. The next step was to come clean, and that is when he called Ali Bacher," Mr Steele said.
Cronje had also told McCauley how the pressure had "got to him".