Background
Van Gelder was the son of the paper maker Hendrik van Gelder and Aagtje Mats.
Van Gelder was the son of the paper maker Hendrik van Gelder and Aagtje Mats.
Van Gelder then served at Medemblik 1853-1855, Drachten-Ureterp 1855-1858, and Bolsward 1858-1863 before being called in 1863 to serve in the Doopsgezinde kerk, Haarlem.
From 1869 he was also a member of the Teylers First Society.