The following information is from the Allegan News-Gazette, Dunningville Church Has 50th Anniversary

Members of the Dunningville Reformed Church attended services last evening October 5, at which time the 50th anniversary of the church was celebrated.

Mrs. Henry Poelakker, a member of the church, sent in the following history of the church to the News-Gazette.

In 1912, a group of persons living in the Dunningville area expressed a desire to have a church of their own. Many of these persons were members of the Hailton Reformed Church and each Sunday you find them travelling 12 miles to Hamilton with horse and carriage. Dunningville, at the time as a community with a store, post office, and depot. There was a great potential here for a church. Therefore, on May 8, 1912, the Dunningville Reformed Church was organized. The membership, upon transfer from the Hamilton and Overisel Reformed Churches, totaled 40 communicant members and 23 baptized members from 15 families.

From 1912 until 1921, various seminary students and guest ministers served the church. Then in 1921, the Rev. A.J. Dunnewold accepted a call to serve the church and was its pastor until 1926 when he passed away.

A fire the night of January 15, 1933, destroyed the church building. In spite of the difficulties involved, the congregation decided to re-build and land was donated on M-40. Dedication ceremonies for the new structure were held May 19, 1934. Student pastors served the church for the next 27 years.

The Rev. B.D. Hakken, Jr., accepted a call in 1953 to serve the church and continued his duties until leaving for the mission field in 1956. It wa during this time that a parsonage was completed, the work completed in July of 1956.

The congregation met on April 19, 1961, and decided to enlarge the church with the construction being completed a month ago.

The church now has 44 families with 84 communicant members and 60 baptized members.



Dated: post April 1961.