Olive Township near Holland in Ottawa County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

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South Olive Christian Reformed Church

1. South Olive Christian Reformed Church Marker, side one

Inscription. The South Olive Christian Reformed Church is a daughter congregation of the Noordeloos church. The Noordeloos church and three other local West Michigan congregations seceded from the Reformed Church in America in 1857 to form the Christian Reformed Church. In 1885 members of the Noordeloos church received permission to organize this church in the southern part of Olive Township. It was originally called the Holland Christian Reformed Church at New Holland.

Completed in 1887, church is the nucleus of this Dutch-Calvinist farming community. A. J. Baker of Hamilton, Michigan, was the contractor for the original 40' x 50' frame building. The structure was enlarged in 1897. The chapel, built in 1898, was moved and attached to the rear of the church in 1935. The full basement was completed in 1948. The simple design is accented with Gothic windows. The front tower, with its open belfry, houses a 1.033-pound bell cast in 1897.

Erected 1980 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. Property of the State of Michigan. (Marker Number 1177.)

Topics. This historical marker is

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listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 42° 52.883′ N, 86° 4.792′ W. Marker was near Holland, Michigan, in Ottawa County. It was in Olive Township. It was at the intersection of 120th Avenue and Port Sheldon Street, on the left when traveling south on 120th Avenue. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 6177 120th Ave, Holland MI 49424, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in West Michigan,

specifically in Greater Grand Rapids,

and in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It was also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Noordeloos / Noordeloos Christian Reformed Church

South Olive Christian Reformed Church Marker, side two image. Click for full size.

2. South Olive Christian Reformed Church Marker, side two

(approx. 2.9 miles away); Veneklasen Brick Company / Veneklasen Brick (approx. 5.3 miles away); New Groningen / Jan Rabbers (approx. 5½ miles away); Piece of Old Blades (approx. 5.8 miles away); De Zwaan Windmill (approx. 5.8 miles away); Michigan's "Chick Center" (approx. 5.9 miles away); "Uniting Sun" and "New Dawn Rising" (approx. 5.9 miles away); First Reformed Church (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Holland.

More about this marker. The congregation moved and the church was demolished at some date after the marker was erected, but the steeple was saved, as shown on photograph No. 3. Sometime in 2020 the steeple was removed and on November 2, 2021 the Michigan Historical Commission approved removing the marker and changing its status to artifact status.

The marker itself is now in the collection of the Olive Township Historical Society and is displayed in their museum at 11768 Polk St.

Also see . . . South Olive CRC Counts Its Blessings. 2010 news article for the Christian Reformed Church website. Excerpt:

A lone steeple stands as a reminder of where South Olive Christian Reformed
Photographed and ©2010 by Brandon Bartoszek. Used with permission, August 20, 2010

3. South Olive Christian Reformed Church Steeple and Marker
Church had planted itself for more than 100 years.

Just down the road north of Holland, Mich., however, is the new church building, built in the late 1990s. Stained glass windows, wooden trimmings and the bell in the belfry from the old church were incorporated into the new structure.

A clear reminder of many years of tradition is evident in that steeple, which is erected behind a Michigan historical marker. But the past is carried forward in the new church as well.

(Submitted on August 6, 2023.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 440 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 6, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.