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The Plymouth Congregational Church, constructed in 1896 |
A Sunday school was started
in Conklin shortly after the formation of the village. Initially they met in
the depot and then later in the school. In 1896 the corner stone was laid for
the first church in the village, located on the corner of Sehler and Cherry. Named
the Plymouth Congregational Church, Reverend Stapleton became the first minister, living in the village for several years. During this time, Rev. Stapleton also tended to the Congregational church in Lamont. A list of all of the ministers of Plymouth Congregational Church in Conklin has not
been kept. It is known that Rev. F. W. Sass was the minister in 1908 because
the church ran an ad in the December 18, 1908
Conklin Enterprise.
The church was closed for
several years, then reopened again in 1932. Rev. Bruggers, pastor of the Coopersville
Reformed Church, was instrumental in getting the church reopened. Mr. Robert
Brevitz assisted him. At a meeting held on October
18, 1932 an agreement was reached between the Congregational Society in Lansing and the Reformed Church in American
to purchase the church building and property for the sum of $1,500. This same
meeting also served as the organizational meeting for the Conklin Reformed Church.
Seven
members of the original Congregational Church transferred their membership to the newly organized church: Mr. and Mrs. M. Creager, Mr. Thomas Creager, Miss Jennie Kaufman, Mrs. Ed Keas, Mrs. W. Lovelace, and Mr.
S. Wright. 22 additional community members also joined the new church at this
meeting: Mr. Clifford Brevitz, Mr. and Mrs. Robert O. Brevitz, Mrs. Thomas Creager,
Mr. Cecil DeBoise, Miss Edith Doane, Mr. Luther Doane, Miss Esther Gillhespy, Miss Evelyn Gillhespy, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gillhespy,
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Gillhespy, Mrs. Perl Gillhespy, Miss Mildred Haas, Miss Minnie Kaufman, Miss Nellie Kaufman, Miss Alma
Leeman, Mr. and Mrs. F. Ostrander, Mrs. Vogel, and Miss Lillian Wilkinson.
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Conklin Reformed Church - 1942 |
Rev. Bruggers served as the
temporary minister. Several students from Western Seminary also served the church
in Conklin during summer months. Dr. Henry Bart, Holland, became the first student minister. Rev. Raymond Bekkering
was the second student minister. Rev. Marion Klaaren became the first full-time
minister, beginning his service while still a senior at Western Theological Seminary.
The following lists the ministers who have served the Conklin Reformed Church congregation:
Henry Bart |
1932 – 1933 |
(Student) |
Raymond Bekkering |
1933 – 1935 |
(Student) |
Marion Klaaren |
1935 – 1937 |
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John VanHarn |
1938 – 1943 |
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George Chermak |
1944 – 1946 |
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Arthur Johnson |
1946 |
(Student) |
A. T. Laman |
1947 – 1952 |
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Cornie Keunan |
1953 |
(Student) |
Gilbert Visser |
1953 – 1961 |
(1953 – 1958 Student) |
Raymond Schaap |
1962 – 1968 |
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Henry Elgersma |
1969 – 1974 |
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Perry DeGroot |
1974 |
(Summer Student) |
Robert VanZyl |
1974 – 1991 |
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Alvin Hospers |
1991 – 1992 |
(Interim Minister) |
Richard R. Christy |
1992 – 2005 |
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