On West Main Street in the heart of historic downtown Freehold, New Jersey, the Reformed Church of Freehold has stood as a place of worship for more than 175 years. Conveniently located near Routes 9 and 18, the congregation identifies itself with a simple three-part motto: Welcoming All, Following Christ, Building Community. Its mission statement, that the church demonstrates God's love, builds community, and welcomes all who desire to follow Jesus Christ, shapes everything from Sunday worship to local outreach.
A Congregation Born in 1842
The Reformed Church of Freehold is part of the Reformed Church in America, known earlier as the Dutch Reformed Church and recognized as the oldest continuous Protestant communion in the country, with roots tracing back to 1628 in the fort at New Amsterdam. The Freehold congregation itself was established in 1842 as the Second Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Freehold, after years of sharing ministry with the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Freehold in Bradevelt, Marlboro, often called the Old Brick Church.
The original 1842 building was a plain, square structure without a steeple, topped instead with an inverted corn basket ornament. Pews faced the street, and a lobby with stairways led up to a gallery on three sides and to the consistory rooms. The choir sat in the gallery above what is now the pulpit.
Growth brought the first major renovation in 1859, when a tall steeple, a new cast steel bell, and the present narthex were added, and the entire sanctuary was rotated so that the pulpit moved to the rear center facing Main Street and the pews took the orientation they hold today. A fire in 1867 forced services out of the sanctuary for several weeks, and another remodel followed at the end of the nineteenth century. By 1905 the high steeple was replaced with a lower, more stable spire. Membership had grown to 300 by 1906, and the benevolence budget had increased by half over the previous quarter-century.
More recent work has kept the building serving its congregation well. In 1992, wooden tree-trunk supports gave way to concrete columns, the sanctuary floor was replaced, four pews were removed for extra space, and new carpet, pew cushions, and a complete paint job marked 150 years of church life. In 2015, a generous gift upgraded the Kitchen and Fellowship Hall in honor of Florence and William Clayton, bringing the stoves' ventilation and fire suppression systems up to code.
Sunday Worship in the Reformed Tradition
The congregation gathers for worship every Sunday at 10:00 AM. Services follow a traditional Reformed Church order of worship, while the leaders work to make the liturgy meaningful for every age. Youth are dismissed to Sunday School after the children's sermon, and on the first Sunday of the month the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated. The church understands communion as a way for God to shape faithful followers of Jesus, and when parents believe their children are ready, those children are invited to receive the bread and cup alongside the rest of the congregation.
Visitors will find a friendly downtown setting with parking close to the front doors. The church office can be reached at (732) 462-1717 or office@freeholdreformed.org, and updates are shared through a regular e-blast newsletter and on Facebook.
Christian Education for Children and Youth
Children's faith formation is a central part of the church's life. Sunday School meets during worship, with students going directly to their classrooms on the first Sunday of the month and joining worship for the Lord's Supper; on other Sundays they are dismissed after a youth message. A one-room classroom currently serves students in grades K through 5, and confirmation classes are offered as young people are ready. Teachers use resources that engage students with the Bible and life application.
Seasonal mission projects give students a way to put faith into action. The congregation has purchased farm animals through Heifer International, provided Christmas gifts for local children, and helped supply school supplies for distribution through Church World Service. Adult study opportunities are offered periodically, and new member, confirmation, and communion classes are taught as needed.
Mission and Service in Greater Freehold
Service to the wider community runs deep at Freehold Reformed. On the first Sunday of each month, members bring donations for the Open Door Food Pantry to the front of the church or the lobby, and a special offering supports the pantry's work; monetary gifts marked "Open Door" can be placed in the offering plate at any time.
Beyond Open Door, the church partners with a wide network of local and global ministries. Locally, members volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, support Sanctuary and 180 TLA (a women's shelter), Dina's Dwelling, and the Reformed Church Home, and participate in the Freehold Clergy Association's Emergency Housing and Advocacy Program. On a broader scale, the congregation supports Church World Service, Heifer International, Camp Warwick, New Brunswick Seminary, and the Crop Walk. Members are encouraged to join in through activities like volunteering with Habitat, donating Christmas gifts for seniors at the Reformed Church Home, or Stuffing the Bus with school supplies for children.
Through the Freehold Clergy Association, an interfaith consortium of churches, mosques, and synagogues in the Greater Freehold Area, Freehold Reformed also takes part in the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service, Community Thanksgiving Services, Ecumenical Christian Lenten Services, the Crop Walk, and Interfaith Dialogue Seminars. The Open Door Food Pantry and the Freehold Area Emergency Housing and Advocacy Programs themselves grew out of this clergy association.
Women's Ministry
The Women's Ministry meets monthly for fellowship, Bible study, planning, and refreshments, with special dinners held periodically to mark holidays and events. Fundraisers such as yard sales and the Holly Berry Boutique support missions that have included the Open Door Food Pantry, the Freehold First Aid Squad, missionaries in Taiwan and India, the Reformed Church Home, and the church's own programs. Members also take part in retreats and programs offered by the Reformed Church's Regional and General Synod.
CALM Academy
The church building is also home to CALM Academy, a Private Education Association in Freehold that serves families in the area. The school shares space at 67 W. Main Street and can be reached through its own contact information.
Stewardship and Leadership
Stewardship at Freehold Reformed is understood as an expression of gratitude to God and a commitment to participating in God's mission in the world. Members give through weekly tithes and offerings as well as shared fundraising activities, and online giving is available through Tithe.ly.
The congregation is served by Rev. David K. Groeneveld, a graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary. Originally from the south suburbs of Chicago, he has served congregations in Shokan, New York; Hackensack, New Jersey; Linden, New Jersey; and worked at Seabrook Village as pastor of the Protestant Community.
With its renovated sanctuary, active Sunday School, monthly communion, and deep roots in the Freehold Clergy Association's outreach, the Reformed Church of Freehold continues its long habit of welcoming neighbors on West Main Street and serving the broader community in the name of Christ.