Accra Ridge Church | Accra's Local Church

Our records show that the initiative in establishing this church came from a small group of British expatriates, mainly civil servants, who lived   in   the   Ridge   area.   They   were   mostly Anglicans who wanted a service in English and of a simpler pattern than that available at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.  Numbering about  12, they started meeting together on Sunday evenings to worship in their own language and in their own fashion, sometime in 1935. More often than not, there was no minister present, so they sang and | prayed with one of their number leading.

Although predominantly   Anglican,   they   occasionally invited ministers from the then Scottish Mission (i.e., Presbyterian Church) and Methodist Church to preach. Thus, the seeds of inter-denominationalism and lay leadership were sown right from the beginning. When the then Anglican Bishop of Accra, Bishop Anglioby, heard about this young congregation, he offered his support and arranged for a priest from the low Anglican Tradition. So, in 1936, the first Chaplain, Rev. G. Harward, arrived in the country and stayed for four years.

Originally, the church was meant for the European Community resident at the Ridge and was, thus, known unofficially as the 'European Church’. It opened its doors to Ghanaians with the invitation to Dr. E.A. Sackey. Mrs. S.O. Quarshie-ldun, Sir C.W. Tachie-Menson and other distinguished Ghanaians to become members in the 1940's, all of whose children and grandchildren are still worshipping with us. In 1946, the church became officially known as the RIDGE CHURCH.

Services continued to be held in the evenings until 1948 when two morning communion services a month and a family service were introduced. But it was not until 1967 that the present 10.00 a.m. service began. The church was pastored by one Resident chaplain assisted by a number of regular guest preachers until 1956 when it was decided to appoint two part-time chaplains from the other participating churches in addition to the Resident chaplain. This arrangement evolved into the three full-time chaplains we have now which became operational in 1997 and the title of "Resident Chaplain" changed to COORDINATING CHAPLAIN in 1999.

The Church began its life in a wooden bungalow in the compound next to the present-day FAO offices. Half of the bungalow served as the Church and half as the residence of the chaplain. In 1937, the first 'AGM' was held. There were 19 people present and a committee was formed "to be responsible for the organization and administration of the chaplaincy services and finance." Thus began the Church Council. As membership increased, arrangements had to be made to accommodate worshippers. In 1946, when the old church was opened, membership was 70. The membership shot up to 200 in the 50's, and by 1978, it had hit the one thousand mark. Now we have over 4000 people registered with us.

About 600 of our members live abroad. Of the rest, only 2500 are active members. This sanctuary we have gathered in this morning was built in 1967. The southern side was added in 1986 and the northern extension in 1992.
Over the years, a number of groups and fellowships have been established. By 1939, the Ridge Church Choir, the oldest group in the church, had already made a name for itself in the country with its performances of classical music. Then came the Women's Fellowship, the Christian Services Group, the Neighbourhood Fellowship (area groups, as they were then known), which, at one time had as many as 16 active groups, the Couples' Fellowship and Visitation group which are unique to the Accra Ridge Church, the dynamic Youth Fellowship, the Men's fellowship, etc. The newest groups in the church are the Mission 50 plus and the Social Activities Committee which has just had its maiden programme. A number of programmes, such as the Christian Education programme, Bible exposition, Ridge Hospital Service, Youth and Teen camps, Good Friday 'Passion Music, Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmas, Fellowships' week, Retreats, Revivals, Vigils, Prayer Meetings, Weekly visits to the sick and the bereaved, etc., have all become a normal feature of the life of the church. The Sunday School was started in 1954 and the RIDGE CHURCH SCHOOL was established in 1957.

But the most significant developments over the past 10 years have been the fulfilment of two long-time dreams:
•   An evangelism program: an initiative by the Youth led to the planting of a church at Swedru, whilst upon the initiative of one individual, we now have the Tudu Outreach Ministry;

First Satellite Church: through the generous donation of a church building by the Manet Housing Ltd., our Manet Chapel was born five years ago.