Grace Church
The idea to plant a Free Reformed Church in the Brantford area dates to the late 1980’s when several families from the Dundas and Hamilton FRC congregations saw the need and the potential for a Free Reformed Church in the Brantford area.
The Hamilton FRC consistory assumed the work in May of 1991 and their request to institute the Brantford congregation was approved by Synod in 1993.
Grace Free Reformed Church was officially instituted at the installation service on Monday, June 21, 1993.
Rev. Cornelis Pronk became Brantford’s first minister in 1994 and served as their full-time Pastor until his retirement in 2006. Worship at the current facilities at 17 Patterson Avenue began in April 1997, and the facilities were purchased in 1998.
During the early years, Grace FRC grew quickly. The consistory initiated a church plant in St. George in September 2004. 157 members formed the St. George congregation at its institution on September 23, 2005
Rev. Carl Schouls served as Brantford’s second pastor from September, 2007 until his retirement in 2011. Following a vacancy of seven years, Rev. David Van Brugge served the congregation from January 2018 until January 2025. We are currently vacant, but the consistory is actively working to call a man who is suited to minister among us. Our congregation is served by eight elders and five deacons.
Our Denomination
Historically, The Free Reformed Churches trace their roots to the Succession of 1834 in the Netherlands. Dutch immigrants from these churches established congregations in North America in the mid twentieth century.
Since then, the denomination has slowly but steadily grown. Currently there are 19 congregations in North America which seek to faithfully worship God and proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in their local communities.