Church History

Finding Meeker’s Meeting House, the story of an overlooked Revolutionary War era church near the New York – New Jersey border.

Finding Meeker’s Meeting House, the story of an overlooked Revolutionary War era church near the New York – New Jersey border. By Rev. Douglas J. Douma, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY In the year 1780—or sometime previous—a meeting house was built on the land of Samuel Meeker in northwestern New Jersey near …

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Thoughts on the 85th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church

I really look forward each year to seeing all the “Fathers and Brothers” at the Bible Presbyterian Church General Synod. This year was our 85th General Synod and it took place in Grand Island, NY. The food and the company did not disappoint. My family came along for the week and we especially enjoyed time …

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Review of Reformed & Evangelical across Four Centuries

Reformed & Evangelical across Four Centuries, The Presbyterian Story in America by Nathan P. Feldmuth, S. Donald Fortson III, Garth M. Rosell, and Kenneth J. Stewart. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2022, 364 pp. This is a valuable book which holds the interest of the reader, no small feat for a book on Presbyterian history. The …

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The Changing Name of the Village of Unionville, NY

Today’s Unionville, NY had other names in its early years. According to the histories, it was once known as “Tucker’s Store” since an early resident, Henry Tucker, operated a store out of his house here. Then the general area was referred to as “Westown” (with one “t”) or “Westtown” (with two “t’s”) being as it …

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An 1878 Surprise

Two newspapers noted a surprise wedding at the Unionville Presbyterian Church in 1878. The first is the Evening Gazette of Port Jervis, NY of August 1st of that year. The second, similar but with a few changes, is the Tri-States Union, also of Port Jervis, NY but from the next day, August 2nd.  

John Witherspoon and the Connecting of American Presbyterians

John Witherspoon and the Connecting of American Presbyterians Speech given at the 84th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church meeting in Cape Canaveral, Florida, August 9, 2021. by Rev. Douglas J. Douma [Introductory Remarks: On the theme of connectivity at the level of the general assembly (or synod in the case of the BPC), …

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