Grove Reformed Church

Why did a grove of trees become so central to a church’s identity? Here at Grove Reformed Church in New Jersey, that’s exactly what happened. The story begins in 1843 with members of the English Neighborhood Reformed Church. They were given permission to establish the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of New Durham. Their initial meetings took place in a building on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen. A few years later, a generous gift changed everything. Local banker John Brown donated a beautiful grove of trees. This grove was located uphill from their meeting place, on the land where Grove Reformed Church now stands. This act of generosity in 1850 led to a name change. The First Reformed Church of New Durham became “The Grove Church,” forever linking its identity to those trees. Grove Reformed Church later gained international recognition. It became known as the home church of renowned missionary Horace G. Underwood. By 1926, Grove Reformed Church had grown significantly. It was one of the three largest churches within the Reformed Church in America. During this period of growth, Grove Reformed Church played a key role in establishing nine other churches in northern Hudson County. Tragedy struck in 1973 when the historic wooden church building caught fire. It was being prepared for repainting when the blaze erupted. The building was completely destroyed. This devastating event is still remembered by church members and the local community who witnessed the inferno. The current Grove Reformed Church building stands as a testament to resilience and faith in the face of adversity. Grove Reformed Church remains an active part of the urban community. Its mission is to celebrate and participate with God in the redemption, restoration, and renewal of Hudson County and beyond.