CRC History

Significant Dates in CRC History

1834-10-13	Rev. Hendrick de Cock and the consistory at Ulrum, Netherlands, sign an Act of Secession.
1847-02-09	Rev. A. C. Van Raalte and party reach site of Holland, Michigan. (For information on Dutch immigration to western Michigan, visit the Joint Archives of Holland.)
1849-06-04	Dr. I. N. Wyckoff, with the ministers and several elders of Classis Holland agree to unite Classis Holland with the Dutch Reformed Church (now Reformed Church in America).
1857-03-19	Members of Second Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, MI, organize an indpendent congregation (now First CRC).
1857-04-08	Graafschap and Polkton churches secede from RCA; Revs. K. Vanden Bosh and H. G. Kleyn withdraw from RCA
1857-04-17	Members of Vriesland Reformed Church form independent congregation.
1857-04-29	Churches of Graafschap, Grand Rapids, Noordeloos, Polkton, and Vriesland form Classis Michigan and begin the Christian Reformed Church.
1859-02-02	First name chosen for new denomination: Hollandsche Gereformeerde Kerk (Holland Reformed Church).
1861-02-06	Denomination renamed Ware Hollandsche Gereformeerde Kerk (True Holland Reformed Church).
1862-04-01	First congregation organized within denomination at Zeeland, MI.
1865-01-27	First congregation organized in Illinois at Lage Prairie (now South Holland). Congregation, still known as True Dutch Reformed Church, left the CRC and joined Netherlands Reformed denomination in 1886.
1865-10-04	First General Assembly (Synod since 1880) held at Graafschap, MI.
1866-05-11	First congregation organized in New Jersey at Paterson.
1866-08-19	First congregation organized in Iowa at Pella.
1866-08-22	First German-speaking congregation organized at Riddot, IL.
1866-10-16	First permanent congregation organized in Wisconsin at Gibbsville (now Oostburg).
1867-07-04	First congregation organized in Ohio at Cincinnati.
1868-02-14	First publication of De Wachter, denominational magazine.
1868-10-07	Classis Illinois organized as denomination's second classis.
1869-04-5	First congregation organized in Indiana at Lafayette.
1871-06-16	First English worship service held at Central Ave., Holland, MI, by a minister of the True Protestant Dutch Reformed Church.
1876-03-15	Origin of Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary.
1876-09-13	First congregation organized in New York at Sayville (now West Sayville).
1877	Classis Iowa organized, fourth classis.
1878-11-14	Classis Hudson organized as third classis.
1880-06	First Synod whose Acts were published.
1880-06-11	Denomination renamed Hollandsche Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk (Holland Christian Reformed Church).
1880-11-18	First congregation organized in Kansas at Rotterdam (now Dispatch).
1881-03-01	First denominational Yearbook published.
1882-07-19	Classis Holland organized, fifth classis. Classis Michigan becomes Classis Grand Rapids.
1883-05-03	First congregation organized in South Dakota at New Holland.
1886-04-29	First congregation organized in Minnesota at Prinsburg.
1886-08-22	Classis Muskegon organized, sixth classis.
1886-09-21	First congregation in Illinois (South Holland, first organized 1865-01-27) reorganized after Rev. E. L. Meinders and majority of congregation seceded earlier in the year. The original congregation, known as the True Dutch Reformed Church, is part of the Netherlands Reformed denomination.
1887-02-23	First English-speaking congregation organized in Grand Rapids, MI as Fourth Church (now LaGrave Ave.).
1887-04-27	First congregation organized in North Dakota at Hull.
1889-10-23	First missionary in denomination installed, begins work with Sioux Indians. Work abandoned within a year.
1890-06-10	Merger with True Dutch Reformed Church effected. Denomination renamed Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk (Christian Reformed Church).
1890-10-21	Former TDRC congregations organized as Classis Hackensack, CRC's seventh classis.