The fertile farmland surrounding Ripon drew many Dutch immigrants during the early twentieth century. Seeking new opportunities, these families brought with them their Reformed theological tradition. By 1918, a congregation known as Ripon I was formally organized by the Christian Reformed Church in North America with twenty-nine members. The church continued to grow and flourish over the following decades as waves of immigration came into the San Joaquin Valley from other parts of the United States and from the Netherlands.
By the 1930s, the congregation had reached an all-time high of 194 families, and its influence began to spread into the surrounding community. In 1937, members living in Modesto organized the Modesto CRC, and in 1946, a second CRC—Immanuel—was established in Ripon. First Church’s own Rev. John De Jong later became known as the father of Ripon Christian Schools and, in retirement, also helped organize Bethany Home. Like many Dutch Reformed communities, First Church believed that Christian faith should shape every area of life. Worship on Sunday was joined by Christian education, strong family life, and active involvement in the local community. This institutional growth reflected not only the remarkable expansion of the Reformed community but also First Church’s commitment to sending its own members to extend the reach of the Reformed faith.
The decades that followed brought continued growth, building expansions, and changing patterns of life. The congregation evolved from a largely agricultural community into one that included educators, healthcare workers, business owners, tradesmen, professionals, and, perhaps most notably, members who were not Dutch.
Throughout its history, First Church has wrestled with questions that were deeply important to the church of each generation. Earlier members debated issues such as the use of English in worship, singing hymns, Christian education, participation in labor unions, and even whether to include a choir. These discussions remind us that every generation must seek to apply God's unchanging Word to new circumstances with humility and grace.
The church has also maintained a longstanding commitment to missions and evangelism. Both the congregation and individual members continue to be Christ's witnesses "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
In the late twentieth century, theological and ecclesiastical questions increasingly shaped conversations throughout the denomination and within our own congregation. Among the most significant were debates concerning biblical interpretation, human sexuality, and the ordination of women to church office. After decades of observing these developments, many members left to form Zion Reformed in 1998. Following careful study and much discussion, the congregation voted in 2022 to disaffiliate from the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
Following a period of transition, First Church was received into the Presbyterian Church in America in 2024. Although this marked a significant organizational change and a transition out of the specifically Dutch Reformed tradition, it was not a departure from the historic Reformed faith that has guided the church since its founding. Rather, it represented a continuation of our commitment to Scripture, the Reformed confessions, and the lordship of Christ. We cherish the rich legacy of Dutch Calvinism that formed our congregation while also rejoicing to be part of the broader Presbyterian tradition, whose roots stretch back through the Scottish Reformation and the Westminster Standards. More than a century after twenty-nine charter members organized Ripon I, First Church now numbers more than 700 members.
Our community has changed. Our buildings have changed. Even our denominational affiliation has changed. But the good news has not changed. As we remember God's faithfulness in the past, we look with confidence to the future, trusting His promise that Christ will build His Church, and "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).