This week in Christian history: ‘Chariots of Fire,’ first Christian Reformed church plant

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, March 26, 2023

First Christian Reformed church plant established – April 1, 1862

This week marks the anniversary of when the Christian Reformed Church of North America created its first congregation, a church plant that sprang from another congregation that predated the denomination’s existence.

CRCNA originated from the immigration of Dutch Calvinists to Michigan and sprang from the efforts of the community to form their own denomination in the United States.

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First Christian Reformed Church in Zeeland was launched on this date, being identified by the modern-day CRCNA as the “First church organized within the denomination” as it was a church plant of Noordeloos Christian Reformed Church, which had been one of four churches to form the denomination in 1857.

“The Rev. K. Vanden Bosch served both the Noordeloos and Zeeland congregations,” explained the Zeeland Historical Society.

“After two years a small church was built on Main St. A house was purchased for $650. By March 1870, the Rev. J. Stadt accepted a call to become the first full-time Zeeland pastor. In 1878 a new brick church was built.”