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Excerpt from "Grant - Yesterday Today" 1979 as submitted by Jeanette Kruithoff
Grant Reformed Church
original structure built about 1907
at 136th St. and Poplar |
Grant Reformed Church
second structure built in town 1950 |
Grant Reformed Church 2007 |
Traveling from Muskegon April 9, 1894, with a horse and wagon to an
unorganized community and facing a region totally barred from Christianity
came Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson and their three children to settle on the
farm 5 miles east of Grant. They had only their furniture and their horse
and wagon. They soon became acquainted with Dr. Veenboer who helped them
to settle and to buy their cattle.
Shortly afterward Ralph Timmer and family and the Lucas family arrived in
this locality, which then made 3 families with Christian principles. About
August these families wanted to start church services. So Dr. Veenboer
sent for a student to preach, Vanderbuck Vanderbelda. The student, not
having a pulpit, used the sewing machine to good advantage. Meetings were
held every week alternately at the homes of Johnson, Timmer, Lucas, Funts
and VanAsselt. After the weekly services had started the home missionary,
Mr. DeVries from Grand Rapids, preached here for 2 months. In the fall of
the year the families of John Mouthaan and Henry DeVries arrived. About
December of 1894 the church services were held in the John Train
schoolhouse instead of in the homes.
In November of 1896 the church organized with 7 families who were: Martin
Johnson, Ralph Timmer, Lucas, John Mouthaan, Henry Devries, John Landheer
and Joldersma. The church services were then transferred to a house
located on Brink store corners, 1 mile south and 5 miles east of Grant.
Students from Hope and Calvin colleges had charge of these services and
occasionally a minister took charge.
The 2 congregations east of Grant, Reformed and Christian Reformed were
originally one, the Christian Reformed Church. The original church was on
the southeast corner, 2 miles south and 4-1/2 miles east of Grant. Some
wanted the church moved 3/4 mile north and some were opposed. Some were
quite bitter about it. In 1899 it was moved and supported by a majority to
move the church. Shortly after occupying the new site, the church burned
in 1906.
At the time the church burned there were 30 families as members. One was
accused of setting the fire. He was arrested and acquitted. The
congregation split up and a group of 12 families met in Peter VanSingel's
basement. When it became necessary for him to store his potatoes they
moved to a small house and the next year built the small church used until
the new one was built in Grant in 1950.
The little church had been built about 44 years before at a cost of $400
and was furnished by the Domestic Missions. It stood on the northeast
corner 2 miles south and 4-1/2 miles west of Grant. William VanWyk was the
carpenter with much donated labor. It was built on an acre of ground
donated by Marinus DeFouw who was one of the first 2 elders. William
VanWyk being the other. The 2 deacons were Egbert Schipper and John
Landheer. They were 4 of the charter families. The others were: John
Tibbe, John Mouthaan, Klaas Courtz, Johannas VanWykes, Edward Mattman and
Henry Pastoor. Those who cleared their farms were both VanWykes, Sieger
VanSingel, John Mouthaan, John Tibbe, Klaas Courtz and Egbert Schipper.
The man who had to expend the most effort and money in getting the low
land settled was Dr. Veenboer of Grand Rapids. Some of the first church
collections were 80¢ and 90¢ a Sunday.
Albert Hyma was church clerk at the time his house burned in 1929 burning
the church records. What he wrote from memory follows: "The church was
organized in August 1905 with the classical missionaries, Rev.
VanArrendonk, Rev. Muilenburg and Rev. Hoffman being present. Meetings
were held in Peter VanSingel's basement in the fall of 1906. The church
was incorporated in the fall of 1907. Consistory meetings were held in
Casnovia and Mr. Danoff, a layman, probably an elder, was present. The new
church was built in 1906."
The male charter members had either beards of moustaches and some could
understand only the Holland language. In 1913 Rev. Herman DeWitt, a
student pastor, because of failing health was sent to the state of
Washington. Then the church was without a resident pastor until 1936 when
Rev. Jacob Groetsema became the pastor. It was his first church. He was
called to Muskegon in May of 1939. Rev. David Laman, a student and
graduate minister, came in June of 1939 and served until called to
Muskegon in October of 1943. The church was without a pastor until July of
1944 when graduate minister, Rev. Howard VanEgmond became a pastor. He
served until January of 1948. The church was then again without a pastor
until June of 1950 when Rev. William Haak became the minister.
In 1950 a new Reformed Church was built in Grant. Dedication services were
held May 10, 1951. Members of the consistory in 1950 were: Rev. William
Haak, president; Casper Bouwkamp, vice-president; Martin VanIddeking,
treasurer; Gerrit Tibbe, clerk; Ebert Schipper, James Schuitema, Sr. and
Ralph VanSingle. Members of the building committee in 1950 were: Casper
Bouwkamp, Edward VanHorn, Henry VanRandwyk and Andy Ros. Members of the
finance committee were: Ebert Schipper, Peter S. VanSingel and Andrew
Landheer. The contractor was William Veurink and the architect W. P.
McLaughlin. Rev. and Mrs. Haak left the church in June of 1954.
In 1956 a new parsonage was built and Rev. Stuart Noordyk became the
pastor in June of 1956 serving until February of 1960. Rev. Bert VanMalsen
accepted the call to become the pastor from April 1961 to December of
1965. Rev. William P. VanMalsen was associate pastor from November 1961
until taking over the position vacated by his father and was the pastor
until January of 1970 with an intermission for study in the Netherlands
from September 1967 to February 1969. Elder William Noordyk took over the
duties of a pastor during this time.
At the time of the move to Grant about 40 families were on the membership
rolls. Steady growth for the last 20 years has brought the membership to
103 families. Lack of room for Sunday School, etc. prompted the building
of a new addition to the church in 1970 so there is added Sunday School
space, a new kitchen and fellowship area.
Rev. Adrian Newhouse became the pastor in February of 1971 and is still
the pastor. In December 1978 there were 113 families in the church with245
members.
There have been 3 young men from the Grant Reformed Church who have gone
into the ministry; Roderick Jackson, Richard Bouwkamp and Gordon Dragt. |