History
Central Reformed Church is the result of a union between two Grand Rapids congregations - First Reformed Church and Second Reformed Church. First Reformed, founded in 1840, was thoroughly Americanized when the union occurred. Not so Second Reformed. Founded in 1849, Second Reformed Church was full of first-generation Dutch immigrants, and was resistant to giving up its Dutch language.
Both churches lived through fires, secession, and other stresses, but managed in the end to thrive, helping each other through such ordeals in the process. By 1918, both congregations held their services in English, and a family in one church could look over to the other and see extended family members worshiping there. When the two churches found themselves without pastors, unification seemed logical and helpful. Central Reformed Church was born.
In 2003 the Consistory commissioned the publication of a church history of Central Reformed Church. The book - Then, Now, and Always, Jesus Is Lord: A History Of Central Reformed Church - was written by church member Dan Ballast. Copies are available from the church office for $10.
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HI, I AM AN OLD MEMBER AND WAS AT THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED THE CHURCH AT FOUNTAIN AND BARKLEY. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YEAR THAT CHURCH BURNED DOWN. A GROUP OF US WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT MONDAY. THANK YOU.
The church was destroyed by fire on February 10, 1953. For your information, both First and Second Reformed Churches, the two churches that united in 1918 to become Central lost churches to fire - First on May 3, 1872, and Second on May 25, 1895.