A: In the 17th Century, Dutch Merchants trading in the "New World" were some of the first from Europe to make use of the remarkable harbor on this tiny group of islands named by Christopher Columbus. As trade began to boom some of these Dutch merchants began to settle. One of their first projects was to begin their own distinctive Dutch Calvinist congregation which met in Fort Christian. Over the years the congregation has changed locations four times. This building's cornerstone was laid in 1844 and the congregation has worshiped here ever since. In 1995 Hurricane Marilyn ravaged this house of worship. During the fifteen months of rebuilding, worship was held every Sunday at the St. Thomas Synagogue just up the hill.

A: The Dutch Reformed Church was renamed the Reformed Church in America in 1867, and now has a thousand congregations spread across North America. We are called Reformed---think Reformation---as the heirs of the reformers of the Christian (Roman Catholic) Church in the 16th Century. We have sister churches throughout the world.

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches includes 218 denominations and 75 million members worldwide. The Presbyterian Church in the USA is perhaps the best known "reformed" church in North America. Our Reformation cousins include Lutherans, Mennonites, Baptists, Anglicans and others.

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