History

In 1952 the Raleigh Baptist Association (RBA) saw a need for a church in this part of Raleigh. Frances Lacy School had recently been built and a residential community began to grow around it. On September 11, 1954 twenty-six folks gathered under one of the beautiful oaks on our property to inaugurate the life of our congregation.

     The little white building on the northeast side of our campus, now known affectionately as “the Hut,” was our first gathering space for prayer. The Hut is still used as a Sunday School classroom today. Our worship and Sunday School gatherings began on October 3, 1954 at Meredith College. Shortly thereafter, on November 7, 1954 the founding members decided that the church would be named Ridge Road Baptists Church.

     Construction on our original sanctuary, now known as “The Chapel,” began in 1960. It was completed in the spring of 1962. Four years later the church agreed to move forward with plans for a children’s education building. The first classes where held in that space in December of 1966. Today that space houses our weekday preschool and children’s ministry classrooms.

     The ground was broken for our current Sanctuary in 1982. Our inaugural service in that space was Sunday, October 2, 1983. Today we continue to gather in that space to celebrate the love God has shown us and the world.

     As a church of unique persons, we have been a part of the Ridge Road neighborhood since its beginnings. As we move into the future, we hope to continue being a place of hospitality, worship, and life-giving friendship within this wonderful part of Raleigh.