Pillar Church - Holland, Michigan - Continental Reformed and Congregational Church Sites on Waymarking.com

In 1884, after significant tension and a painful split, it became a CRC church. After 130 years of division, in the fall of 2012 Pillar Church re-established itself around a vision of reconciliation.

This congregation began when 53 Dutch immigrants, under the leadership of A.C. Van Raalte, arrived in Holland in February, 1847, fleeing religious persecution. The king of the Netherlands tried to establish a state church and anyone who called for reform was considered a threat to the crown.

Upon their arrival, these devout pioneers worshiped outdoors until a small log chapel was built. Meeting together to worship and restore their faith was important as these pioneers suffered all the hardships associated with adapting to a wilderness environment. By 1854 the membership grew too large for the log chapel and a larger church was built. In 1856, Dr. A. C. Van Raalte dedicated this structure.

Each week, one sermon was taken from one of the fifty-two Lord’s Days in the Heidelberg Catechism. Psalms were sung acappella. No hymns were used until 1934. Elders sat at the front of the church and evaluated the sermon. Shaking or refusing to shake the pastor’s hand indicated if the elder approved or disapproved of the sermon.

After Dr. Van Raalte’s death, Pillar Church began to experience conflict over several things: English language services, Masonic Lodge membership, Communion, education, and whether hymns should be sung as well as psalms in worship. The majority of the congregation voted to secede from the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church (which later became the Reformed Church in America). After being an independent congregation from 1882-1884 the members voted to join the Christian Reformed Church (CRC). In August, 2012, Pillar Church voted to become a dual-affiliation congregation of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC), thus restoring what was split in 1884.

This historic church is on the National Historic Register. It was one of the few buildings to survive the devastating fire of 1871, and is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture. The six pillars were built on site, have a solid cedar post in the center, and the outside is made of tapered boards somewhat like barrel staves. The heavy timbers, including the 16-inch sills and crossbeams, were hand-hewn in the nearby forest. The interior was all wood. The floors, walls, and ceiling were covered with hand planed, painted boards. The exterior cost $2,064 and the interior work cost about $3,000. There were three sets of pews, a wide center pew for the women and children, and one on each side for the men. Six potbelly stoves were used to heat the church. The belfry contained the community bell, which was rung to call people to worship, during the week for meetings, fires, and to mark the workday, and for burials, ringing once for each year of life. The plaque in the sanctuary honoring Dr. Van Raalte was dedicated in 1879, three years after his death. The English translation reads: “In Memory of Rev. A.C. VanRaalte, D.D., First Pastor of this Congregation and Father of our Settlement. A Servant of the Lord, Mighty in Words and in Works.” Over the years, many changes have been made to the building. In 1902 electric lights were added. In 1947, an attempt was made to modernize the building and improve the sound quality. The wood walls and ceiling were covered with acoustical tile. The structure was raised in 1950 to add a basement. That same year the old pump organ was replaced and new pipes were added in 1966. The organ was also upgraded in 1996, 2003 and 2012. The office wing was remodeled in 1988, and it was at that time that the heritage room was added in the basement, which now displays historic artifacts.

Reformed or Congregational Denomination: Christian Reformed Church in North America Associated Website: [Web Link] Status: Active House of Worship Address: 57 East 10th St Holland, MI United States 49423 Date of Construction or Event Occurrence: 01/01/1856 Architect: Jacobus Schrader

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