Our History
The Beginning
The Alto Reformed Church began in 1846 when ten families moved to the area and began to gather in various homes for worship. Seven more families arrived in 1847. These families had come to a point where they could no longer remain in the Netherlands where the state was dictating to the church which doctrines should be taught and which songs were to be sung. Persecution had escalated over the years and they could not resist the opportunity to start new lives across the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1847, after outgrowing the home of D.A. Van Eck, a 20 x 28 ft. log church was built about a half mile west of our current location on Van Eck’s property. In 1848, they added two rooms for the church’s first pastor, Rev. Baay. He arrived from the Netherlands to lead the pioneers in worship. For his services, Rev. Baay received potatoes, wheat, and other products of the field, as well as free-will offerings placed in a tin box at the entrance. Rev. Baay painted “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches (Gal. 6:6)” on the box.
The Denominational Affiliation
The Domestic Mission Board of the Reformed Church in America did provide some financial support in these early years even though the church was not officially affiliated. It’s believed the church associated with the Presbyterian Church in the early 1850’s when Rev. Zonne came, but this is not certain. It is clear it was a time of anxiety, despair, and discord. In 1855, the Rev. Bolks ushered in a time of harmony as they officially organized under the Reformed Church in America. The church faithfully supported the RCA and their missions for 166 years until it became clear that the RCA would not return to its theologically conservative roots. In 2021, the congregation voted 149 to 3 to leave the RCA and join the Alliance of Reformed Churches along with the Waupun and Brandon RCA churches.
The Building
A new church was dedicated in May of 1857 on five acres of land donated by a few members of the congregation. This “wooden church” was about thirty by fifty feet. D.A. Van Eck then gave the old building to the church to be used as a “poor house” where the poor and feeble could live and work. A separate parsonage was built later that year to house the new pastor.
The current church was built in the English style architecture, with its octagonal auditorium and rolling partitions, and was erected in 1898 at a cost of about $8,000. It was described as “certainly one of the most attractive rural church buildings in the whole state.” This building is still our primary space for worship.
Additions and renovations to the original church building have been made to accommodate the growth of the church. In 1923, the basement was excavated by hand. In 1930, the balcony was finished off. In 1940, the basement was dug deeper and plumbing was added. In 1954, (though a commemorative mug says 1950) the East addition was built, including the overflow room, the Green (old consistory) room, the Yellow (old Pastor’s Study) room, and a kitchen and classroom in the basement. In 1968, the north wing of church was added to seat 225 more people. It included room in the basement for 10 Sunday School rooms. In 1993, the Red Room was converted from attic to a youth room. In 1997, an elevator was installed to make the basement handicap accessible. In 2004, an addition to the North added a larger lobby, bathrooms, offices in the front, and a larger youth room to accommodate our growing youth ministry. This cost nearly $700,000. The addition of the nursery, prayer room, and 2 classrooms was completed in 2010.
The Legacy
The legacy of Alto Reformed church is not only in its building, but its faithful pursuit of supporting the mission and standing on the truth.
Alto has supported and sent multiple leaders into ministry and missions. It started with an offering for the son of their first pastor in order to help fund his education. A policy to support seminary students continues, but as new ways of preparing young people for ministry arise the church is supporting those paths as well. For many years the church celebrated that over 50% of their income went to missions. As the need for mission work here at home rose, the budget shifted to Youth For Christ workers and other local mission efforts. We continue to support several missionaries.
Alto planted four churches over the years, including Ebenezer (1879) in Alto which merged back after a few years, First Reformed (1888) in Waupun, First Reformed (1893) in Friesland, and Bethel Reformed (1936) in Brandon. These churches in turn planted Trinity (1955) and Emmanuel in Waupun and First Reformed (1908) in Randolph.
The support of mission work to youth in our community is evident in building projects, staff hires, and vibrant programs for children and youth that exist today. The church also lives out this missional value in supporting multiple missionaries around the world; sending groups on short-term missions multiple times a year; and blessing local ministries with funds, donations and volunteers.
The legacy of standing on truth has solidified as the church faced difficult issues in the culture and sought to do what is right in the sight of God.
From the beginning the church has stood on truth as they faced difficult challenges to Scripture. It started with the government in the Netherlands denying the church freedom to worship as they believed they should. This desire for freedom tied over to their concern with slavery in America. The first discussion of the consistory after joining the RCA was to address slavery as they “would under no circumstances tolerate any bondage or suppression.” A few years later, in 1860, while the community was conflicted over the Civil War, seven men joined the north, one of which gave his life for freedom.
While the church has historically supported the public school system, back in 1865, there was a time when the pastor “could not condone the evils connected with the system” and established a Christian school where the Word of God would be central to the education of the children. A building was erected, and a teacher hired. After several years the school and church greatly influenced the community. Eventually the community began to manifest a true practicing of Christian faith, so much so that the separate Christian school was not necessary. Since then, the congregation has faced many other issues; like transitioning to English, the Pentecostal movement, moral failure, and division; with a passion to uphold the Bible.
In 2021, after several years of speaking into the RCA regarding the lack of discipline over churches teaching universalism, performing same-sex marriages, and ordaining LGBTQ+ pastors, the church voted overwhelmingly to leave the RCA and join like-minded RCA churches to form the Alliance of Reformed Churches (ARC). The classis approved the request on Nov. 2, 2021 and the official release took place on Dec. 31, 2021. While departure was heartbreaking it was also unifying to again take a stand on the truth. More information on ARC can be found at www.arc21.org.
The Alto Reformed Church began in 1846 when ten families moved to the area and began to gather in various homes for worship. Seven more families arrived in 1847. These families had come to a point where they could no longer remain in the Netherlands where the state was dictating to the church which doctrines should be taught and which songs were to be sung. Persecution had escalated over the years and they could not resist the opportunity to start new lives across the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1847, after outgrowing the home of D.A. Van Eck, a 20 x 28 ft. log church was built about a half mile west of our current location on Van Eck’s property. In 1848, they added two rooms for the church’s first pastor, Rev. Baay. He arrived from the Netherlands to lead the pioneers in worship. For his services, Rev. Baay received potatoes, wheat, and other products of the field, as well as free-will offerings placed in a tin box at the entrance. Rev. Baay painted “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches (Gal. 6:6)” on the box.
The Denominational Affiliation
The Domestic Mission Board of the Reformed Church in America did provide some financial support in these early years even though the church was not officially affiliated. It’s believed the church associated with the Presbyterian Church in the early 1850’s when Rev. Zonne came, but this is not certain. It is clear it was a time of anxiety, despair, and discord. In 1855, the Rev. Bolks ushered in a time of harmony as they officially organized under the Reformed Church in America. The church faithfully supported the RCA and their missions for 166 years until it became clear that the RCA would not return to its theologically conservative roots. In 2021, the congregation voted 149 to 3 to leave the RCA and join the Alliance of Reformed Churches along with the Waupun and Brandon RCA churches.
The Building
A new church was dedicated in May of 1857 on five acres of land donated by a few members of the congregation. This “wooden church” was about thirty by fifty feet. D.A. Van Eck then gave the old building to the church to be used as a “poor house” where the poor and feeble could live and work. A separate parsonage was built later that year to house the new pastor.
The current church was built in the English style architecture, with its octagonal auditorium and rolling partitions, and was erected in 1898 at a cost of about $8,000. It was described as “certainly one of the most attractive rural church buildings in the whole state.” This building is still our primary space for worship.
Additions and renovations to the original church building have been made to accommodate the growth of the church. In 1923, the basement was excavated by hand. In 1930, the balcony was finished off. In 1940, the basement was dug deeper and plumbing was added. In 1954, (though a commemorative mug says 1950) the East addition was built, including the overflow room, the Green (old consistory) room, the Yellow (old Pastor’s Study) room, and a kitchen and classroom in the basement. In 1968, the north wing of church was added to seat 225 more people. It included room in the basement for 10 Sunday School rooms. In 1993, the Red Room was converted from attic to a youth room. In 1997, an elevator was installed to make the basement handicap accessible. In 2004, an addition to the North added a larger lobby, bathrooms, offices in the front, and a larger youth room to accommodate our growing youth ministry. This cost nearly $700,000. The addition of the nursery, prayer room, and 2 classrooms was completed in 2010.
The Legacy
The legacy of Alto Reformed church is not only in its building, but its faithful pursuit of supporting the mission and standing on the truth.
Alto has supported and sent multiple leaders into ministry and missions. It started with an offering for the son of their first pastor in order to help fund his education. A policy to support seminary students continues, but as new ways of preparing young people for ministry arise the church is supporting those paths as well. For many years the church celebrated that over 50% of their income went to missions. As the need for mission work here at home rose, the budget shifted to Youth For Christ workers and other local mission efforts. We continue to support several missionaries.
Alto planted four churches over the years, including Ebenezer (1879) in Alto which merged back after a few years, First Reformed (1888) in Waupun, First Reformed (1893) in Friesland, and Bethel Reformed (1936) in Brandon. These churches in turn planted Trinity (1955) and Emmanuel in Waupun and First Reformed (1908) in Randolph.
The support of mission work to youth in our community is evident in building projects, staff hires, and vibrant programs for children and youth that exist today. The church also lives out this missional value in supporting multiple missionaries around the world; sending groups on short-term missions multiple times a year; and blessing local ministries with funds, donations and volunteers.
The legacy of standing on truth has solidified as the church faced difficult issues in the culture and sought to do what is right in the sight of God.
From the beginning the church has stood on truth as they faced difficult challenges to Scripture. It started with the government in the Netherlands denying the church freedom to worship as they believed they should. This desire for freedom tied over to their concern with slavery in America. The first discussion of the consistory after joining the RCA was to address slavery as they “would under no circumstances tolerate any bondage or suppression.” A few years later, in 1860, while the community was conflicted over the Civil War, seven men joined the north, one of which gave his life for freedom.
While the church has historically supported the public school system, back in 1865, there was a time when the pastor “could not condone the evils connected with the system” and established a Christian school where the Word of God would be central to the education of the children. A building was erected, and a teacher hired. After several years the school and church greatly influenced the community. Eventually the community began to manifest a true practicing of Christian faith, so much so that the separate Christian school was not necessary. Since then, the congregation has faced many other issues; like transitioning to English, the Pentecostal movement, moral failure, and division; with a passion to uphold the Bible.
In 2021, after several years of speaking into the RCA regarding the lack of discipline over churches teaching universalism, performing same-sex marriages, and ordaining LGBTQ+ pastors, the church voted overwhelmingly to leave the RCA and join like-minded RCA churches to form the Alliance of Reformed Churches (ARC). The classis approved the request on Nov. 2, 2021 and the official release took place on Dec. 31, 2021. While departure was heartbreaking it was also unifying to again take a stand on the truth. More information on ARC can be found at www.arc21.org.
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The Town of Alto
http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/altochron.htm
http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/alto.htm#The%20first
The Town of Alto
http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/altochron.htm
http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/alto.htm#The%20first