First United Methodist Church - Holland, MI
N 42° 47.311 W 086° 06.629
16T E 572751 N 4737714
The United Methodist Church in Holland, Michigan, had its beginnings long before the area was settled by Dutch immigrants.
Waymark Code: WMN6F7
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 01/04/2015
Views: 3
A number of families of English descent had come to this area for various reasons during the 1830’s and 1840’s. Some had come to work with the Indians; some had come to seek new land opportunities; and some had followed other family members. Several of these families later helped in the founding of the Methodist church in Holland. When the Dutch arrived in 1847, led by the Reverend Albertus C. Van Raalte, these earlier settlers worshipped with Van Raalte for fourteen years. The services were in Dutch and the doctrines were those of John Calvin.
In 1861, Isaac Fairbanks, who had come to this area in 1844 as a government agricultural agent to assist the Indians, determined that a Methodist congregation might be formed, since no English-speaking church existed in Holland. By this time the town was fairly well settled, with many frame houses and stores lining the dirt streets. The Methodist Church was widely established across southern Michigan and it was considered the most “American” of church bodies because its development coincided with that of our country. By the mid 1800’s it was the largest denomination in the United States, with over one million members. Most of these Methodist congregations in Michigan were small and were served by circuit-riding pastors. Following this pattern, in 1861, Holland became part of a circuit of four charges–Fillmore, Hamilton, Holland and Ventura. It was called the Holland Circuit of the Methodist Church. The original congregation numbered eleven.
Thus, the first English-speaking church in Holland, Michigan, was founded.
After losing the third church in its history to fire on January 24, 1979, planning began almost immediately for a new church building. After worshipping in Hope College’s Dimnent Chapel for two years, a new sanctuary and fellowship hall were completed in 1980 and 1981.
The congregation continues to worship in this fourth building on Tenth Street. In October of 1982, a Harrison and Harrison pipe organ was dedicated, adding its clear English sound to the music heritage of the church.
Active church?: Yes
Year Built: 1980
Website: [Web Link]
Service times: Not listed
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