Michigan, Coopersville. Coopersville Reformed Church. Records, 1854-1992.
Scope and Contents
The Coopersville Reformed Church collection contains a complete set of bulletins from 1970-1992 and the minutes of the consistory dating back to 1854. However, some of the early minutes were destroyed by fire. The collection is complete from 1914-1984. Also included is a set of church directories published between 1957 and 2001, including several pictorial directories.
The church newsletter was begun in 1962, and was known by three different names through the years – Echoes, Courier, and Love Link. The set is complete to 1999. Photographs of the church and parsonage, pastors and missionaries, and of the 100th Anniversary celebration in 1954 include a total of 62 images. Also included are a program and other materials from the 125th anniversary in 1979.
Sunday School records from 1900-1973, minutes of the various women’s groups dating back to 1894, and the records of the Young Peoples Society from 1911-1926 are also a part of this collection.
Some of the early minutes and records are in Dutch.
Dates
- Creation: 1854 - 1992
History
The Coopersville Reformed Church was organized in 1854. In the early years it also went by the names Polkton and Eastmanville. The history of the church dates back to 1846 when a few families of immigrants came to this area. Services were held in their homes until a small log structure was set-aside as a house of worship.
In 1854, a request was sent to the Classis of Holland for organization. On May 10, a church of 21 members was organized. In 1862, steps were taken to obtain a minister. Rev. Jacob Vander Meulen accepted a call on terms that he would also be pastor of a Congregational Church in Eastmanville. This joint pastorship was unsatisfactory and lasted only one year.
A frame church was built in 1866. Rev. James Huysoon was called to be the pastor. A parsonage was built. Membership continued to grow. In 1883, the building was moved to its present location. The building burned a year later. The church was rebuilt, and then destroyed again by fire in 1928. The present structure was built and dedicated on March 6, 1929. The church grew from the original 21 members to 628 in 1979 when the church celebrated its 125th anniversary.
Extent
10.50 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Dutch; Flemish
Abstract
Coopersville Reformed Church (also went by the names Polkton and Eastmanville) was organized in 1854, but dates its history to 1846. Ministers included Rev. Jacob VanderMeulen and Rev. James Huysoon. Collection includes a complete set of bulletins from 1970-1992 and the minutes of the consistory dating back to 1854 (some of the early minutes were destroyed by fire), but the collection is complete from 1914-1984; church directories published between 1957 and 2001, including several pictorial directories; church newsletter Echoes, Courier, and Love Link, 1962-1999; photographs of the church and parsonage, pastors and missionaries, and of the 100th anniversary celebration in 1954; and other materials from the 125th anniversary in 1979; Sunday School records from 1900-1973; minutes of the various women’s groups dating back to 1894; records of the Young Peoples Society from 1911-1926 are also a part of this collection.
Photographs
62 images (Box 6)
Provenance
Coopersville Reformed Church
- Status
- Completed
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Hope College Archives and Special Collections Repository
Van Wylen Library
53 Graves Place
Holland Michigan 49423 United States
616-395-7798
archives@hope.edu
