Scope and Contents
This collection consists mainly of church minutes. The consistory minutes, which document major events in the church’s history, also contain financial material. The folders are arranged alphabetically, except for the records of membership dismissals, which are chronological. See W92-1050 (Pillar Church) for records prior to 1882.
Dates
- Creation: 1867 - 1990
History
The First Reformed Church had its beginning in 1847 when Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte came to Holland to avoid persecution in the Netherlands. Regular services began in a log church, where Pilgrim Home Cemetery is today. The group of believers was organized as a congregation of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) in 1850 and in 1856 the congregation moved into its newly-built Pillar Church at Ninth and College.
On February 27, 1882, the majority of the congregation voted to withdraw from the RCA and retained the church building and parsonage. The minority group then built a new building at the corner of Ninth and Central. They occupied this location until 1963 when they constructed a new church on State Street.
English services began during the pastorate of Rev. Henry J. Veldman (1906-1919) and consistory minutes were first written in English on February 6, 1916.
Extent
18.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
German
Dutch; Flemish
Abstract
The First Reformed Church had its beginning in 1847 when Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte came to Holland to avoid persecution in the Netherlands. Regular services began in a log church, where Pilgrim Home Cemetery is today. The group of believers was organized as a congregation of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) in 1850 and, in 1856, the congregation moved into its newly-built Pillar Church at Ninth and College.
On February 27, 1882, the majority of the congregation voted to withdraw from the RCA and retained the church building and parsonage. The minority group then built a new building at the corner of Ninth and Central. They occupied this location until 1963, when they constructed a new church on State Street.
The materials of the First Reformed Church include records of the consistory, elders, and congregational meetings, membership, ladies aid society, women’s adult Bible class, women’s missionary society, young people’s Christian Endeavor society, young women’s band, correspondence, and 147 photographs. Also included are five Bibles and two membership books. The minutes of the consistory meetings are in Dutch until 1916.
Photographs
147 images (Boxes 1, 2, 11)
Provenance
First 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
