Building

Geography

Beliefs

Ministers

Pillar Church Time Line

      This congregation began when a small group of Dutch immigrants arrived at Holland in early February 1847. Under the leadership of Albertus C. Van Raalte, fifty-three individuals fled to North America to be free from religious persecution. The Netherlands had been one of the most free nations in Europe, but following the Napoleonic Wars, the king tried to establish a state church.  Anyone who called for reform was considered a threat to the crown.

      Upon their arrival on the shores of Black Lake  ( now Lake Macatawa), these devout pioneers worshipped outdoors until a small log chapel was built in the fall of 1847.  Since all of the members of the Kolonie belonged to that first church it was known as the People’s Church.  Meeting to worship and have their faith and strength restored was so very important as these newcomers suffered all the hardships associated with adapting to a wilderness environment.

      That log chapel, located in what is now Pilgrim Home Cemetery, was used until the present structure was completed in 1856. Dr. Van Raalte served the congregation until 1867 when his physical strength began to fail. Six years after his death in 1876, the church was torn by the growing controversy over Freemasonry. The majority of the congregation, by then known as the Old First Church seceded from the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church. After standing as an independent congregation for two years ( 1882-1884 ) the members voted to join the Christian Reformed Church.  When English language services began in 1911 about seventy-five families left the congregation.  While our services no longer last two to three hours, we continue to meet weekly to praise God and be strengthened by his word.