The following information is from the Allegan Gazette, December 16, 1916

A Remarkable Church
That at Overisel was Organized in the Netherlands in 1847 -- Observed the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Present Building

The great Reformed church is Overisel village, which has probably the largest church building and is the largest religious society in the county, observed Dec. 1, the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of that building.

The beautiful first day of the calendar winter was said to be be quite like the one in 1866 when the dedication was made. Representatives were present from many of the sister churches of this part of the state and the great auditorium was occupied to its fullest capacity. It was brought out in the addresses that very many men have gone from this church to the service of Hope College in many prominent capacities, more than have gone from any other source.

The old church has a most interesting history, as was disclosed in papers read by Rev. G.J. Hekhuis, present pastor, and Elder Henry Kooiker.

These stated that the church was organized in the Netherlands in 1847 (in the days of religious persecution) with twenty-three families, G.J. Nykerk and H. Lankheet being elected elders and B. Timmerman, G. Veldhuis and Gerrit Nyhuis deacons; that they emigrated to America in the year of organization, and upon arrival in Overisel at once proceeded to build a log church about half a mile west of the present edifice, on the Fillmore township line, which they occupied until 1851, when they erected their second house of worship on a site immediately west of the present church building;

that, in 1865, Hendrick Kleinheksel, father of John and John H. Kleinheksel, both of whom still survive, drew the plans for the present edifice, a noble structure with its quasi-Gothic interior, began to superintend its erection, but died in 1865, making it necessary for John R. Kleyn of Holland to complete the work in 1866; that the original plans called for a $6,000 structure, to which were later added a noble spire, with a bell, the cost of which additions comprised the sum of nearly $4,000; that still later a pipe organ was placed, costing $1,800; that the parish grew and reached its climax in 1880, when it numbered 226 families and 490 members;

that in 1881 came the devastation wrought by the second "seeesh", so that while today the church holds over 135 families and 430 members, it is stronger, and better than before; that the first recorded collection is that of 1860, when the church gave $138 for benevolent and $694 for congregational purposes; that these collections, during the last half decade -- 1911-1915 amounted to $17,120 and $11,822, respectively; that these offerings during the fiscal year 1915-1916 alone amounted to $3,940 and $2,087, respectively;

that this church supports two missionaries on the foreign field -- Rev. James Cantine, at Bushrah, Arabia, and Mrs. Lambertus Hekhuis (nee Jennie Immink) at Chittoor, India; that the Overisel church, during its seventy years of existence has had only five pastors as follows: Rev. S. Bolks (1848-'53), Rev. G.J. ykerk (1858-'77) Rev. P. Lepeltak and Rev. G.J. Nykerk (1877-'91), Rev. A. VandenBerg, (1892-'06), Rev. G.J. Hekhuis (1906--); that during the five years of vacancy 1853-'58, the pulpit was supplied by Elder G.J. Wolterdink, G.J. Nykerk, and others; that three of its pastors, Dr. Bolks, Nykerk, and Lepeltak, were born and reared in the very precincts of the parish of Overisel;

that the longest service was enjoyed by the second pastor, Dr. Nykerk, who began his eldership at twenty-five years of age in the Netherlands, served eight years in this capacity in America, upon which he was sent by the Overisel church to the Holland academy to get his preparatory course, and then to Dr. A.C. VanRaalte to study theology, after which he served his church as pastor thirty-four years, fourteen of which were spent as a co-laborer with Rev. Lepeltak.



Dated: December 16, 1916