Ridgecrest United Methodist Church is a combination of both the old and new. We feel that it is an excellent mixture of past tradition and new enthusiasm. To better understand the former congregation and the mergers which are so much a part of our church, we give you the following highlights of our history.
The Kansas Conference of the Evangelical Church meeting in Hiawatha, Kansas, in May 1944, took action establishing a new mission to be known as Portland Avenue. The new Portland Avenue Church building was dedicated March 23, 1946.
At our denominational General Conference which met in the fall of 1946 at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the United Brethren in Christ and the Evangelical Church became the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Due to this merger both Portland Avenue and First Church became a part of the Evangelical United Brethren Denomination and it was at this time that First Church was renamed the West Seventh Street Church.
Following much study the Seventh Street Church and Portland avenue Church voted to merge into one body, receive a new pastor, elect new officers and select a new name. On the first Sunday of June, 1958 the new congregation worshiped together for the first time. On the second Sunday of June the election of officers was held and the name Ridgecrest was chosen. One week later the service of merger was held.
A Building committee was named in July 1958, but the sale of Seventh Street property was delayed until May of 1961. At this time a new building committee was elected.
Bishop Paul W. Milhouse officiated the Ground Breaking Service on Sunday March 4, 1962. The contract was let to the Charles T. Hughes Construction Company in February, 1962. Work began on March 28 and was essentially complete the last of September. Volunteer labor from the local congregation did much to complete the interior. Portions of the basement were still being completed as funds were available.
In the Spring of 1968 in Dallas, Texas, a uniting conference was held to finalize the beginnings of a new denomination to be called the United Methodist Church which would include churches, members, and ministers from the former Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The effect upon our local congregation was another change in name, this time from Ridgecrest Evangelical United Brethren Church to Ridgecrest United Methodist Church. It also meant that we would now become a part of the the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference and of the North Oklahoma City District. Greater opportunities for fellowship and Christian outreach also became available to us due to the increased number of sister churches in our area.
