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The Second Reformed Church of Berne, more commonly known as Thompson Lake Reformed Church is a small, rural church filled with a rich history
which can be traced back to its beginning in the early 1800’s.
We are a yoked church, which means we share a pastor and financial responsibilities with the Knox Reformed Church.
You may be wondering how the Thompson Lake Reformed Church came to be in the first place. Well you’ve come to the right place.
In March of 1826, a meeting was held in the home of Daniel Secor for the purpose of organizing a Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, the Second
Reformed Church of Berne. The Secor family gave the land for a church building. The present congregation of Thompson Lake Church worships at the same location at the intersections of routes 157 and 157A.
The church and hall now standing are third generation vintage.
The first church was either torn down or destroyed in some way-it is not exactly known how. This church was rebuilt in 1855 and dedicated to the Lord on February 21 1856.
Records form the early 1900’s were lost in a fire on August 24, 1923. A fund raising clam steam was being held on this date. A steam
engine was used to steam the clams when a spark from the engine ignited the hall and spread to the church and adjacent buildings, burning them to the ground.
The only items saved from this fire were the pews, organ, three chairs, the pulpit and an ‘old’ bible.
The pews, chairs and pulpit are still in use today.
The hall and present church were rebuilt and dedicated on November 7, 1924. Disaster struck again in 1958 when the hall caught fire and
burned from what is thought to be a faulty furnace. The hall was replaced by the present hall, which was built in the fall of 1960.
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