Forest Grove Reformed Church. Records, 1865-1948.

The First Reformed Church of Jamestown was founded in September 1869 with a charter membership of 18 communicants who had been meeting for some years as a Sunday School in the local school building. The first church structure (36x50 ft.) was dedicated on December 17, 1873, and followed by the first parsonage in 1875. Rev. John Vander Meulen was installed as the first pastor in June 1875 and remained until January 1885.

By June 1884, the church was self-supporting. Rev. William Wormser served as the pastor from June 1886 until 1890.

The church was enlarged, a consistory room added, and a basement with a furnace, during the years 1886-1887.

In 1888, the first organ was installed, and in 1889 the first bell hung in the spire. Rev. C. C. A. L. John served as pastor from 1890-1892, Rev. B. W. Lamers from November 1892-1903.

In 1904, a new parsonage was built, and from 1905-1910 Rev. P. P. Chef served as pastor.

In 1906, new stables were built for parishioners’ horses and in 1909 the church was again enlarged to the north and now included a chapel. Rev. M. E. Broekstra served as pastor from 1911-1914, Rev. Nicholas Boer, D.D. from August 1915 to September 1918.

In December 1916, a new pipe organ was dedicated, and in December 1918, afternoon services in English were being initiated. Rev. Gradus Vander Linden served as pastor from July 1919 until September 1923. On September 24, 1919, the congregation celebrated the church’s 50th anniversary. In June 1924, Rev. Harry J. Hager, Ph.D., D.D. became the church’s pastor and served until June 1926. That same year an enlargement of the auditorium by extending the gallery was completed, as well as the construction of a complete basement. Rev. Jacob Prins, D. D. began serving the church as pastor in June 1927 and remained until July 1929. The congregation assumed support of Mrs. Benjamin De Vries on March 7, 1929. On January 10, 1930, Rev. John Wolterink became pastor of the church and remained until 1950.

On December 14, 1932, the name of the church was officially changed to Forest Grove Reformed Church. During the years of 1938-1940, extensive repairs and decorations were made to the church and by January 1941, all debt was cancelled.

June 1, 1943, marked the first time all services were conducted in the English language. By January 1, 1944, communicant membership stood at 325 members. Subsequent pastors include Jack Van Dyken (1951-May 1958) and Jacob Prins, D.D. who started in September 1959 and retired on January 3, 1966. That same year the consistory voted to purchase five acres of land for a new church. Pastor Edward Grant, not yet ordained, was installed and ordained on June 20, 1967, and became the first pastor to inhabit the new parsonage dedicated on January 11, 1968.

A new church building was dedicated in August 1970 that included a 600-seat sanctuary, study, church office, consistory room, fellowship lounge, large basement auditorium, library, kitchen, and sixteen classrooms at a cost of $325,000.