History

History of the Middle Ridge

United Methodist Church

^[1]The first Methodist Episcopal Church of Middle Ridge was organized in 1858 and originally located in Kennedyville, Delmar Township. The congregation was meeting in the old Kennedy School. In July of 1881, Samuel W and Emma E Kennedy deeded a plot of land for the building of the first church. This was to stand only a short time before a new building was constructed in Shippen Township.

In 1896, Elder George Washington Doane made a sketch on a piece of paper of an Old Dutch church he had admired and encouraged the congregation to build. He gave the sketch to a skilled carpenter, Galusha Dean Phillips who began designing the building. Because bricks were expensive, Mr. Phillips decided to use basswood siding with dado cuts to resemble brick. Plain clapboard would be used on the back of the church to help keep down costs. Much of the timber and lumber used in the construction of the first church would be utilized in this construction. An example was the using of the same floor of the old church and the pews that were built into the floor.

In March of 1897, Charles Albert and Rosaltha Gertrude Jones deeded a building site on their land for the new church. This lot was and still is located at the corner of the old Stowell Road (now 660 West) and the Jones Road (now Copp Hollow Road). In the spring of 1897, the cellar was dug out by hand for the new church and the foundation was laid up with fieldstones. The floor of the church located in Kennedyville was moved to the new location on a flat bed drawn by horses. After the floor was installed, framing began and much of the construction was done in the summer of 1897. George Francis completed much of the interior finish work.

The congregation decided to have eight stained glass windows put in the new church, three on each side and two in the front of the church. Individuals of the congregation donated these windows and their names and birth dates were put on the windows as a memorial. The individuals who made the donations and have their names on the windows are the following: Robert J and Olive Francis, Avery J and Jane E Kennedy, Cheney C and Anna Ashley, and John and Lillian M Dartt. The presiding Pastor and Elder also had their names put on a window each; they were Pastor George W Doane (1895-97) and wife, Cora B Doane; and Elder C W Winchester (1891-97) and wife Mary P Winchester.

Because at this time there was no electricity to the church a chandelier made of cast iron with bronze coloring and was placed in the center of the cathedral ceiling for their lighting. Five kerosene lamps and plain lamp holders with reflectors were used for additional lighting. There was no plumbing at this time; therefore members had only use of an outhouse. Beside the church was a shed that gave shelter for the horses that brought the members to church.

The walls were wainscoted using the same lumber as was in the old church. The pulpit and the altar railing were also from the old church.

The church was painted red to resemble brick and the corner pieces were painted gray to look like stone. The “gingerbread” and soffits were painted white.

Once the church was finished, plans for the dedication ceremony were made. The dedication took place from August 29, 1897 to September 1, 1897. A feast, scriptural readings, singing and devotional addresses were part of the dedication. The church was named the Middle Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church and there were fifty-four members of the congregation. Pastor Doane served as minister from 1897 until 1902. He again served as Pastor from 1942 to 1946.

Other Pastors that have served at Middle Ridge were Reverend George Scandrett from 1910 till 1914; Reverend Carl B Crippen in 1922 and in the early 1950’s; Reverend A E Francis; Reverend William T Dunstan; and Reverend Harold Loughead. Between 1962 and 1963, Middle Ridge joined the Whitneyville Larger Parish.

In 1968 the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged, therefore, Middle Ridge became the church it is known by today as the Middle Ridge United Methodist Church. The Pastor at the time of this change (1968) was Reverend Gartoff.

In the early 1980’s, membership was down and at times there were no services held. This occurred mostly in the winter months because there was no heating system. The old coal/wood-burning stove failed and was not replaced. During this time, the church became designated as a mission church with Calvin “Cal” Cobb as lay speaker. District Superintendent, Reverend Ed Zeider reorganized the church in 1992 and Kay Schwab was assigned the lay speaker for the church. Around 1994, lay speaker Bill Gibson followed and became the Pastor of Middle Ridge United Methodist Church until 1996. Lay speaker Terry Hughes was assigned to the church in 1996 until retired Reverend Kermit Shrawder came in the fall of 1996. In September of 1997, Middle Ridge reorganized to join the United Methodist church again. At the time of the reorganization there were twenty members of this church.

Throughout the changing of Pastors the church also went under some new renovations. In 1954, electricity was installed in the church. The chandelier and the kerosene lamps were replaced with seven electric light fixtures hung from the ceiling. A furnace was installed between 1994 and 1995, making it possible for the services to be held all year round. The wood shingles were replaced with green asphalt shingles. The shingles on the south side of the church, which weather more, have been replaced in the summer of 1997. The siding on the front of the church was replaced with similar siding in 1995. In the spring of 2004, the south side and the back side of the church was replaced to represent the original siding. The two outside doors on the left were replaced with replicas of the originals in 1996.

In 1998, the interior underwent some transformation also. The old wallpaper was removed from the walls and ceiling, the plaster was reapplied to the walls and ceiling and then painted white. In the fall of 2001, the church was raised and a new foundation was put under the church. In the year of 2002 many changes were made to the church, the basement was finished in the early part of 2002 and the church had plumbing installed and now it has a restroom. There is a Sunday school area in the basement also. A chair lift was installed for those needing assistance to get to the basement from the sanctuary and a new set of steps and a ramp were also installed. The old pews were removed, carpeting was laid throughout the sanctuary and newer pews with cushions were placed in the church.

Middle Ridge United Methodist Church has been a landmark for over one hundred years. Thousands of tourists each year stop and take photographs on their way to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. They have preserved images of the church in postcards, notepaper, paintings, calendars, lithographs and even needlework.

The “Little Red Church” as known by the community has been serving the area as a place of worship and meditation. The true beauty of the church lies not in its architecture but in the faith, hope and love of those who have worshiped here in the past and in the present. Middle Ridge United Methodist Church has its doors open at all times for those seeking to find true meaning to life and to seek out our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. We invite all to enter into God’s Holy House with reverence and love. We ask all who come to sign our book in the entrance and to be encouraged by the Lord’s Peace that He gives all who enter into His house of worship.

^[1] “History of Middle Ridge Church” by Scott Gitchell C:\MR History Brochure.doc