Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/95

Contributor - Unknown

Title - Emmanuel Reformed Church - Whitby, Ontario

Topic - Emmanuel Reformed Whitby

IN the late 1940s and early 1950s, there was a constant flow of Dutch immigrants to Canada. They left a war-torn country that no longer had the resources to meet the needs of their growing families; jobs and houses were scarce, and the future looked bleak. In many instances, entire families packed up all their possessions and set sail for a new homeland with a longing that their children would have a brighter future. More than 100,000 came to Canada: about one-third were of the Roman Catholic faith, and the remainder were from various Reformed persuasions.

A sizable number of Dutch immigrants settled in Southern Ontario. Soon after, those of the Hervormde, or the Reformed faith, began sending letters to the Reformed Church in America (headquartered in New York City) asking for help to form a church similar to that in the Netherlands. Their requests were heard, and several synods of the Reformed Church, within the United States, responded by helping to organize congregations. The Emmanuel Reformed Church of Whitby was the sixth such church to organize as a Reformed Church congregation in Ontario.

In June, 1950, a small group of "Dutch Reformers," living in the vicinity of Whitby and Brooklin, began meeting for worship in the United Church, located in Brooklin. Stated supply pastors conducted services on a regular basis for these worshippers. The Rev. DeBruin started holding services in June of 1950 and continued to do so every other week until the fall of that year. At that time, Mr. Neil Eelman led the worship services on a regular basis, and during the winter months Mr. Martin DeVos occasionally conducted a service. The congregation was most grateful to the United Church of Brooklin for allowing her to use the facilities free of charge.

In February of 1951, Dr. William H. VanderMeer was called by the Board of Domestic Missions-RCA to be the organizing pastor of a new church start in Brooklin, Ontario. In March of that year, the fellowship of 23 people petitioned the Rochester Classis to become an organized congregation of the R.C.A. This was granted and came into fruition on May 10, 1951. At that time, the congregation chose the name Emmanuel Reformed Church. The first consistory meeting was held on June 9 and consisted of the following elected members: (Elders) Meine Langeraap, John Neevel, and Klass Vlieger; (Deacons) Marinus Verhoog, Len Donker, Herman Johnk, and Cor VerMeulen.

During Dr. VanderMeer's pastorate, the Young People's organization was formed, Sunday School began, and Catechism instructions commenced. When the Young People's group started meeting in 1952, it was called EBENHAEZER (the Dutch spelling of Ebenezer), taken from 1 Samuel 7:12c: "...Hitherto the Lord has helped us." All of their meetings were originally held in Dutch.

Dr. VanderMeer left Emmanuel Reformed Church in March of 1952. Worship services were then conducted by Rev. Anthony Tinklenberg of Toronto. At that time there was pressure to move all church activities from Brooklin to Whitby.

On January 9, 1954, a congregational meeting was held for the purpose of calling the Rev. Jacob Dykstra, to be the next pastor. Morning worship services were held at the King Street Public School, and afternoon services were held at the St. Mark's United Church, both locations were in Whitby.

On September 17, 1954, land was purchased where the church and parsonage presently stand; the house was already on the property. The first church building was erected in 1956. It was dedicated on October 6 of that year, and the first worship service in the new facility was conducted on Christmas Day, 1956.

Emmanuel became a self-supporting church in June of 1962; she was the first Reformed church in Canada to do so. In the fall of 1962, she joined the newly organized Ontario Classis of the R.C.A.

In the fall of 1963, a building project was started that would add a 20-foot extension to the church, giving her three Sunday School classrooms and an enlarged choir and pulpit area. Starting in May 1964, both morning and evening services were held in the English language; however, a Dutch service was held in the afternoon, which was attended by older members of the congregation. Rev. Jacob Dykstra was pastor from July 1954 until June 1957. Between September 1958 and November 1964, Rev. Gerrit Rezelman was pastor. Other pastors included Rev. Harold Hesselink, August 1965 - September 1970; Rev. Louis Harvey, December 1970 - March 1978; Rev. Emmo Oltmanns, March 1979 - June 1983; Rev. Wayne Joosse, November 1983 - June 1988; and Rev. Alvin Honken, December 1988 to March 1995.

As the Emmanuel Reformed Church continues through her fifth decade, only God knows what the future will hold. Undoubtedly, more buildings will be built, and some will be dismantled; new programs will be started, and others will be discontinued; children will be born and people will die; members will be added and some will transfer elsewhere. But thanks to God, the church is not a building; she is a people, a people who have been called out of a dark world to walk in the marvellous light. Praise God that He holds our future in His hands. May we all be found faithful and willing to go wherever He leads and do whatever He commands. It is only then that the Lord of the Church will be honoured and glorified through His people.

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