Although the skyline of the city has changed with the competition to build the tallest building in Grand Rapids, one item remains the same – the many steeples of the churches that are the foundation of our ancestors who settled along the banks of the Grand River.
Each of these represents our past and the immigrants that settled in our area to give Grand Rapids the nickname “Furniture City”.
In this series you will follow the Steeple Chase throughout this great city and view the awe inspiring architecture of our forefathers. The distinct architectural styles represent the great churches of Europe from which these immigrants fled to find a new life in the United States.
This is not meant to promote any one religion, but to show how all have blended together within the City of Grand Rapids to make this one great place to live.
Highland Hills Baptist Church
Highland Hills Baptist Church has gone thru many name changes throughout its history. In May of 1894 Holland Baptist Church was organized to serve the Dutch immigrants in the area. As the congregation grew, the need for a larger meeting place was necessary. Land was purchased on Quarry Avenue and on January 26, 1906 the new chapel was dedicated. This new site led to the first name change to Quarry Avenue Baptist Church.
The church worked hard to blend together the “Old World” and “New World” cultures by offering church services in both Dutch and English. In 1943, the congregation converted to using English for all their services. This change did not stop church growth and by the late 1950’s the need for a larger facility was again necessary. The current site on Northrup Drive was chosen and also brought about another name change to Highland Hills Baptist Church. The new church held its first service in October 1961.
With a focus on youth ministries, a new family center was added in April of 1979. The latest addition consisted of a new nursery added in 1990.
(source: http://www.hhills.org/About-Us/A-Brief-History)