Pillar Church
Holland MI
49423
Who we are
Pillar Church is for the city, committed to reconciling divisions, raising up leaders, redeeming the city and renewing the church. As a dually affiliated congregation of the Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRC) and the Reformed Church in America (RCA), Pillar is a place to BELONG - a place for your name to be known and your story heard, a place to BELIEVE - a place for people to engage and grow in Christ, a place to SERVE - a place where each person is sent into every sector of public life to claim it for Christ.
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Church Website
Pillar Church on Social Media
Facebook Video: Pillar Church Facebook Video
Leadership
Leader Name:
Jon Brown Â
Leader Position:
Minister Â
Phone:
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Jon Brown Â
Administration
Admin Name:
Kelsie Boss Â
Admin Position:
Ministries Coordinator Â
Phone:
Admin Email:
Click here to contact Kelsie Boss Â
Pillar Church Service Times
Sunday Worship 9am and 10:30am
It's been more than 4 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
It's been more than 4 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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Other information
Pillar Church History
OUR HISTORY
In 1847 a band of immigrants led by Albertus Van Raalte was invited by the state of Michigan to establish a community on the west side of the state. Upon landing, they planted a church for the community. After enduring a harsh first winter, the community and the church in Holland flourished. In 1856, the building that we still worship in was built. Those in the Pillar community assisted in the establishment of Holland Charter Academy, which would become Hope College. Pillar members also played a crucial role in the establishment of Western Theological Seminary.
After the division that occurred in the church in 1882 between the CRC and the RCA, the denominations spiraled in opposite directions. But after 130 years of division, Pillar re-established itself in 2012 to renew its first commitment to be a church for the city: reconciling divisions, raising up leaders, redeeming the city, renewing the church.
OUR BUILDING
Having survived the Holland Fire of 1871, Pillar Church remains the oldest building in the city. Located in the dynamic nexus between downtown Holland and the Hope College campus, the building stands out with its 1856 Greek revival architecture. The six iconic pillars were built on-site with a cedar beam in the center that was then surrounded by tapered boards like barrel staves. The pillars continue to beautifully welcome all who pass them and enter the church doors.
WHY THE ROOSTER?
In 1856 the founders of Pillar Church hoisted a tin rooster atop the building as a weather vane. Throughout church history, particularly in churches of the Reformed tradition, the rooster has chiefly symbolized two ideas.
First, the rooster calls to mind Peter’s denial of Christ and then Christ’s reinstatement of Peter. The church is reminded that it is made up of the broken and the blessed. Secondly, in the same way, that the rooster rises before the sun and declares the coming light, the church is to be the herald to the world and to proclaim that the light is coming.
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In 1847 a band of immigrants led by Albertus Van Raalte was invited by the state of Michigan to establish a community on the west side of the state. Upon landing, they planted a church for the community. After enduring a harsh first winter, the community and the church in Holland flourished. In 1856, the building that we still worship in was built. Those in the Pillar community assisted in the establishment of Holland Charter Academy, which would become Hope College. Pillar members also played a crucial role in the establishment of Western Theological Seminary.
After the division that occurred in the church in 1882 between the CRC and the RCA, the denominations spiraled in opposite directions. But after 130 years of division, Pillar re-established itself in 2012 to renew its first commitment to be a church for the city: reconciling divisions, raising up leaders, redeeming the city, renewing the church.
OUR BUILDING
Having survived the Holland Fire of 1871, Pillar Church remains the oldest building in the city. Located in the dynamic nexus between downtown Holland and the Hope College campus, the building stands out with its 1856 Greek revival architecture. The six iconic pillars were built on-site with a cedar beam in the center that was then surrounded by tapered boards like barrel staves. The pillars continue to beautifully welcome all who pass them and enter the church doors.
In 1856 the founders of Pillar Church hoisted a tin rooster atop the building as a weather vane. Throughout church history, particularly in churches of the Reformed tradition, the rooster has chiefly symbolized two ideas.
First, the rooster calls to mind Peter’s denial of Christ and then Christ’s reinstatement of Peter. The church is reminded that it is made up of the broken and the blessed. Secondly, in the same way, that the rooster rises before the sun and declares the coming light, the church is to be the herald to the world and to proclaim that the light is coming.
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"He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life."William Law
Pillar Church listing was last updated on the 6th of January, 2020
