Noordeloos / Noordeloos Christian Reformed Church
N 42° 50.551 W 086° 03.544
16T E 576889 N 4743756
located on 112th and Quincy
Waymark Code: WMNWCC
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 05/11/2015
Views: 14
A continuous arrival of immigrants from the Netherlands in 1847 and 1848 dotted the Black River region with a number of distinct communities. Noordeloos, which was named for the first pastor's native village, provided rich soil for farming. Early settlers had previously worshipped in Zeeland, but a distance of five miles and poor roads prompted these parishioners to petition the Classis Holland on April 3, 1856, to organize their own Reformed church. The Reverend Koene van den Bosch, an influential "seceder," was invited to minister to area settlers. On May 16, 1856, he arrived from Noordeloos, the Netherlands, and he was welcomed into the classis. He became the first pastor of the Noordeloos Reformed Church and preached his inaugural sermon from a farmer's wagon in the woods.
Religious discord in the Netherlands and antipathy with earlier religious leaders in the western Michigan settlements, inspired a secession movement in the Reformed church led by the Reverend Koene van den Bosch. At a meeting of the Classis Holland on April 8, 1857, the Reverend van den Bosch presented a letter of secession and, joined by three other churches, founded the Christian Reformed Church. This group, comprised of sixteen families, changed its name to Noordeloos Christian Reformed Church. The secession letter of March 14, 1857, was dated earlier than documents presented by fellow congregations, therefore Noordeloos claims the distinction of being the first congregation of the Christian Reformed Church denomination.
Parking nearby?: yes
Registered Site #: L1744
Historical Date: Not listed
Historical Name: Not listed
Description: Not listed
D/T ratings: Not listed
website: Not listed
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