Dutch Reformed Church in the United States

United States   Church Records   Dutch Reformed Church Records

History in the United States
The Dutch Reformed Church started in the United States in 1628. The first meeting was in New Amsterdam, New Netherlands (now known as New York City, New York). In 1819, it was known as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. It's current name is Reformed Church in America.

Services were held in Dutch until 1764, although in the mid 19th century there was a revival of using Dutch instead of English as more Netherland immigrants came to the U.S.

For more on the history of the Dutch Reformed Church.

A book on the history of the Dutch Reformed Church during the colonial period: The Dutch Reformed Church in the American Colonies, by Dr. Gerald De Jong (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1978). To locate this book at a library near you using Worldcat.

Call number for the

Dutch Reformed Records
Many records for the formerly called Dutch Reformed Church are now held in the Reformed Church in America Archives. The Archives offers a search of their records for a fee of $30 an hour. Use the RCA Archive form to make a request.

For a list of all RCA Archive church record holdings by locality.

For a list of known congregations of the Dutch Reformed Church from 1628 to 2000.

RCA Archives 21 Seminary Place New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (732)-246-1779 Email: rgasero@rca.org

Other sources relating to : The Historical Directory of the Reformed Church in America, 1628-2000, edited by Russell L. Gasero: A source that lists all ministers from 1628-2000, where they served, and their years of service. To locate this book at a library near you using Worldcat. Call number for the 1992 version

A transcription of the marriage and baptismal records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Kingston, New York can be found here. It contains records from 1660 to 1809.

A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:


 * US Virgin Islands Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)