Downtown in Holland in Ottawa County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Ninth Street Christian Reformed Church
Dedicated on June 25, 1856, this church was built under the leadership of the Reverend Albertus C. Van Raalte, founder and the first pastor of the Holland colony. Jacobus Schrader designed the Greek Revival style building using native hand-hewn oak for the sills and crossbeams. The copper rooster on the belfry, symbolizing Peter's denial and pride is commonly found on Calvinist churches in the Netherlands. The city's oldest extant church, often referred to as the Pillar Church, was one of the few buildings in Holland to survive the devastating fire of 1871.
Side 2
The congregation of the Pillar Church was organized in 1847 and worshipped in a log church at the site of the Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Composed of immigrants in secession from the Nederlanse Hervormde Kerk, the church was without denominational ties until it joined the Reformed Church in America in 1850. A division occurred within its congregation in 1882 and the building was assumed by the seceding majority. The minority reestablished itself as the First Reformed Church. Over the years its members, and those of daughter congregations, have sought to fulfill the ideals which inspired the founders to seek a new home in America: freedom of religion; purity of doctrine; and a Christian education for their children in home, school and church.
Erected 1975 by History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number HB37.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list.
Location. 42° 47.352′ N, 86° 6.293′ W. Marker is in Holland, Michigan, in Ottawa County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of East Ninth Street and College Avenue, on the right when traveling east on East Ninth Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 E 9th St, Holland MI 49423, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Outpost (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Knickerbocker Theater (about 600 feet away); Hope College (about 600 feet away); Warm Friend (about 700 feet away); Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church (about 700 feet away); Holland City Hall and Firehouse No. 2 (about 800 feet away); Van Vleck Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Western Theological Seminary (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Holland.
More about this marker. Additional information from the church: http://pillarchurch.com/historyandmission/
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2015, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 463 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2015, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.