The Story of South Ridge Church (Our Sending Church)
In September 2004, a small team of people from Chestnut Ridge Church in Morgantown, WV began a church plant in Fairmont, WV. At first, they met at the Fairfield Inn Marriot every Sunday, but soon grew larger and began meeting at the Senior Center. In April 2008, eight acres of property was purchased for the permeant site of the church. Site excavation began on November 23, 2011, and our first weekend services at the new building were held on May 26, 2013.
In September 2016, South Ridge Church made a faith filled decision to become a multisite church, starting a second location in Bridgeport, WV. A building was purchased in Bridgeport. The building had sat vacant needed major renovation. The first public meeting at the Bridgeport location was February 11, 2018. The faith filled decision to become a multisite church was part of a campaign called Second City.
How We Became Ridge View Church
In the fall of 2020, following the closure of churches due to the covid-19 pandemic, it was decided best to pool financial and volunteer resources and have Sunday services only at the Fairmont Location.
In September 2021, Nathaniel “Looch” Lutyens, a long-term member of South Ridge Church, joined the South Ridge staff as a pastoral intern. His role was to help with pastoral responsibilities throughout our lead pastor transition and to take steps toward a new vision for our Bridgeport location.
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…