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Above drawings are of 1893, 1950, and 1988 facilities.

Corinth Reformed began as an extension of the Dorr Congregational Church. The First Congregational Church of Corinth was organized and erected its first building in 1893. The church had 23 members. Over time, and in great part because the railroad passed well to the south of Corinth, the town disappeared. It also became difficult to find Congregational pastors to serve the church.

On Jan. 9, 1919, the congregation voted to leave the denomination. Thanks to an influx of Dutch into the area, on Dec. 1, 1919, the church applied to join the Reformed Church in America. This was approved by the Classis of Michigan on Jan. 15, 1920, and the congregation became the Community Reformed Church of Corinth.

Over the coming years, the Corinth church would be well supplied by seminarians and faculty from Western Theological Seminary in Holland. Student pastors included Ralph Kortling (1921), J. R. Mulder (1922), Abraham Rynbrandt (1923), Bert Pennings (1924), George Laug (1925-26), Aaron Ungersema (1927), Marion Pennings (1928), Harry Brouwer (1929), Johan Mulder (1930), and Leonard Greenway (1931).

By the end of World War II, the church concluded that it had outgrown its facilities. Construction began next to the old building, which was demolished when the new one was completed. During 1949 the church worshiped in the new basement. The cornerstone was laid in 1950, the year the new sanctuary was completed. At this time the church renamed itself the Reformed Church of Corinth.

In June 1952, Warren Burgess became the first son of Corinth ordained to the Christian ministry; today he serves the congregation as pastor of visitation.

As the church continued its growth, even the new facilities were insufficient. An education wing was added in 1959. When the congregation outgrew this, it purchased a new site in 1981. The old site and facilities were sold to Friendship CRC in 1987; for a year, the two congregations shared facilities. The new building was dedicated on Nov. 6, 1988.

Names:

First Congregational, 1893-1920
Community Reformed, 1920-50
Corinth Reformed, 1950-present

Locations:

58 100th Street S.W., Byron Center, MI 49315 (built in 1950 , now Friendship CRC)
129 100th St. S.E., Byron Center, MI 49315 (built 1988)

Pastors, Congregational:

  1. H. Appleton, 1893-95
  2. P. H. Robinson, 1895-97
  3. Adam D. Whaley, 1897-1900
  4. C. A. Reiley, 1900-01
  5. John Gordon, 1901-04
  6. __ York, 1904-05
  7. E. E. Harring, 1905-06
  8. A. E. Cragg, 1908-08
  9. G. W. Brownback, 1908-09
  10. F. E. Laslette, 1910-12
  11. Robert Gordon, 1912-18

Pastors, RCA:

  1. Thomas G. Van den Bosch, missionary, 1930-31
  2. John G. Van Zommeren, 1931-34
  3. Alva J. Ebbers, 1935-39
  4. Raymond R. Van Heukelom, 1940-47
  5. John E. Hibma, 1949-52
  6. Peter J. Breen, 1952-57
  7. Arie R. Brouwer, 1959-63
  8. Levi W. Akker, 1963-67
  9. John E. Hibma, 1969-76
  10. James T. Goldschmeding, 1977-82
  11. John Schaal, shut-ins, 1982-present
  12. Carl M. Balk, 1983-92
  13. Dr. Kevin Harney, preaching & evangelism, 1993-present
  14. Don Porter, spiritual formation & congregational life, 1996-present
  15. Warren Burgess, visitation, 1996-present

Sponsored:

  1. Calvin, Cutlerville (begun 1963, organized 1967)
  2. Peace, Middleville (begun 1965)
This page ©1997 by Dan Knight.

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