How We Became Ridge View Church
Ridge View Church officially launched in September of 2024. But, like everything else in life, Ridge View did not appear out of nowhere. To understand where Ridge View came from, you need to understand a little about South Ridge Church, the church that sent us out.
Here is the brief story of South Ridge:
In September 2004, a small team of people from Chestnut Ridge Church in Morgantown, WV began a church plant in Fairmont, WV, which became South Ridge Church. After meting in rented spaces for many years, South Ridge held its first weekend services at a new building on May 26, 2013.
In September 2016, South Ridge Church made a decision to become a multisite church, starting a second location in Bridgeport, WV. A building was purchased in Bridgeport, and, after much renovation, the first public meeting at the Bridgeport location was February 11, 2018. In the fall of 2020, due to changes in leadership and the Covid-19 pandemic, it was decided to close the Bridgeport location.
Where did “Ridge View Church” come from?
In September 2021, Nathaniel “Looch” Lutyens, a long-term member of South Ridge Church, joined the South Ridge staff. His desire was to take steps toward a new vision for the Bridgeport location of South Ridge
In January 2023, it was announced that Ridge View Church, an independent church planted by a team going out from South Ridge Church, would be launched in the fall of 2023, with the support and blessing of South Ridge Church.
At the end of August, 2023, Looch and a team from South Ridge were commissioned to go and start Ridge View Church. As of September 2023, that vision began to become a reality, and as of September 2025, Ridge View achieved financial autonomy and operates as an independent church with relational ties to the Ridge Churches in West Virginia.
