As the month of October approaches, two RCA churches in southern Ontario will mark a significant date on their calendars. Respectively, First Reformed Church, Chatham, on October 10, and First Reformed Hamilton on October 11. It was on those dates 50 years ago that those two churches were organized and established in the RCA. The initiative was undertaken by the late brothers Arend and Geert Dummink of Waterdown, Ontario, in October 1948 and February 1949.

They contacted the church media publication, The Church Herald, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The letter indicated the lack of a comfortable place to worship that existed for the Dutch Reformed (Hervormde Immigrant). It claimed the kinship between the Dutch Reformed and the RCA, established in 1628 in New Amsterdam (now New York City) by the dominee (Rev.) Jomes Michaeluis, who formed a congregation of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, a name retained for 240 years.

A slow response of the Board of Domestic Missions, RCA, prompted Michigan Synod to send a fact-finding team to southern Ontario from Nov. 16 – 23, 1948. As a result of this visit, Rev. Harri Zegerius, Rev. J Brouwer, Rev. R Meengs, and Rev. Joe Euwema recommended to the Board of Domestic Mission, RCA "that they arrange to undertake the work among the Dutch immigrants as a domestic mission project."

Immigrating Hervormde Kesk members were advised by their church to affiliate themselves with the United Church of Canada.

A few Dutch ministers, under the auspices of the Hervormde Kesk (Dutch Reformed Church), ministered to incoming immigrants under the umbrella of the United Church.

They experienced the great love and affection of the people, but the language barrier and cultural norms proved too large an obstacle for many. Small groups formed and gathered together in homes for worship services.

The letter received by Richard Vanden Berg of the Board of Domestic Missions from the independent Hamilton group consistory stating "we are not many, but we are all one in our aim, and with the help of God, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, we will fight on forward and looking also with our eyes toward our Reformed Brethren in the USA."

This plea for help resulted in a special committee appointed by the Board of Domestic Missions looking into the needs of Dutch Reformed (Hervormde) immigrants, as well as to evaluate the present alliance between the Hervormade Kerk and the United Church. In July of 1949, a letter was sent to the Synod of the Hervormde Kerk, that the groups organized by the Dutch pastors wished to become independent and join the RCA.

Rev. J Blauw was very much involved in those discussions. Rev. H Gegeruis accepted the call to First Reformed Hamilton in February 1950, and Rev. H. Maassen became the first pastor of First Reformed, Chatham, in the same year. Rev. Gegeruis would also serve as the first director of the Canadian Work.

Mr. Johannes Moerman, an elder in the young Chatham congregation, felt called to the ministry and entered Hope College in 1953. His ordination took place in June 1958. His son, the Rev. James Moerman, currently serves as Executive Secretary for the Regional Synod of Canada.

Thanksgiving worship services are scheduled in Chatham on October 16. In Hamilton, special services will be held on Sunday October 10 and Monday Oct 11, Thanksgiving Day, at 10 a.m. The Regional Synod of Canada Archives extends their congratulations to First Reformed Church and First Reformed Hamilton.