Brooks CRC – A brief History
The Brooks CRC began on the 18th November 1950 when a group of Dutch immigrants decided to organize as a local church within the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The church was originally located in Duchess but within two years it became obvious that Brooks was going to develop as the main community, with the majority of people living there so a church building was bought and moved to a location on Centre street in Brooks. The church was officially organized as Brooks Christian Reformed Church in 1952.
The church had no full time minister until 1955, but was served by Home Missionaries and summer intern students. Finally in August 1955, candidate Wm VanderBeek accepted the call. He passed his ordination examination and was ordained in November 1955. Rev. VanderBeek remained in Brooks until 1958.
In 1959 the church moved locations having bought the old United Church building on 1st Street West. Later that year Rev. Vanden Ende arrived from the Netherlands as the new pastor of the Brooks CRC. He remained at the church until 1963. An interim pastor, Rev. J.M. Dykstra assisted the congregation for a period of time while the church was vacant and then in early fall of 1965 candidate C. De Bree was ordained and installed. Rev DeBree remained in Brooks till the summer of 1968. A year later candidate Ronald Fisher accepted the call to the Brooks CRC and served as pastor till 1973.
Following Rev. Fisher the congregation, in conjunction with the church in Vauxhall, called Rev. D Velthuizen as pastor who remained in Brooks till 1978. During this time the decision was made to buy land and build a new church building. In January 1979 the congregation approved the plans for the new building.
A month later Rev. J Veltman accepted the call to the Brooks congregation. Construction began on the new church and the facility was ready in February 1980. Six years later Rev. Veltman accepted a call and the search for a new minister began. The search committee recommended Candidate Tony Maan who was ordained in October 1986 and remained in Brooks until 1990. A year later Rev. Jake Corvers was called as Pastor. Pastor Corvers and his wife Dorothy remained in Brooks till his retirement in 2002. After him came candidate Christopher Fluit who was ordained in the church in 2002 and remained till 2007.
The church remained vacant until 2009 when candidate, Martin Boardman accepted the call. He was ordained in March 2009 and continued to serve our church until December, 2016.
December, 2017, Reverend John Vanderburgh accepted the call to pastor.
The Brooks CRC began on the 18th November 1950 when a group of Dutch immigrants decided to organize as a local church within the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The church was originally located in Duchess but within two years it became obvious that Brooks was going to develop as the main community, with the majority of people living there so a church building was bought and moved to a location on Centre street in Brooks. The church was officially organized as Brooks Christian Reformed Church in 1952.
The church had no full time minister until 1955, but was served by Home Missionaries and summer intern students. Finally in August 1955, candidate Wm VanderBeek accepted the call. He passed his ordination examination and was ordained in November 1955. Rev. VanderBeek remained in Brooks until 1958.
In 1959 the church moved locations having bought the old United Church building on 1st Street West. Later that year Rev. Vanden Ende arrived from the Netherlands as the new pastor of the Brooks CRC. He remained at the church until 1963. An interim pastor, Rev. J.M. Dykstra assisted the congregation for a period of time while the church was vacant and then in early fall of 1965 candidate C. De Bree was ordained and installed. Rev DeBree remained in Brooks till the summer of 1968. A year later candidate Ronald Fisher accepted the call to the Brooks CRC and served as pastor till 1973.
Following Rev. Fisher the congregation, in conjunction with the church in Vauxhall, called Rev. D Velthuizen as pastor who remained in Brooks till 1978. During this time the decision was made to buy land and build a new church building. In January 1979 the congregation approved the plans for the new building.
A month later Rev. J Veltman accepted the call to the Brooks congregation. Construction began on the new church and the facility was ready in February 1980. Six years later Rev. Veltman accepted a call and the search for a new minister began. The search committee recommended Candidate Tony Maan who was ordained in October 1986 and remained in Brooks until 1990. A year later Rev. Jake Corvers was called as Pastor. Pastor Corvers and his wife Dorothy remained in Brooks till his retirement in 2002. After him came candidate Christopher Fluit who was ordained in the church in 2002 and remained till 2007.
The church remained vacant until 2009 when candidate, Martin Boardman accepted the call. He was ordained in March 2009 and continued to serve our church until December, 2016.
December, 2017, Reverend John Vanderburgh accepted the call to pastor.