A Brief History of The Gathering Place Community Church,

Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada

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The congregation of The Gathering Place traces its roots back to the early 19th century pioneers who settled in the Ridgetown area and were part of a “Restoration Movement” also known as the “Stone-Campbell Movement”. This movement was an attempt to break down denominational exclusiveness and return to the practices of the early church as described in scripture – such as weekly communion, believers’ baptism, the use of the Bible as the source for understanding God’s will, and the priesthood of all believers.  A detailed history of the congregation up to 1969 was published for the church’s 100th anniversary.

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The name of the congregation was changed in the 1960’s from “Church of Christ” to “Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)”.  In 2011 we added “The Gathering Place” to our name.  We were affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada until 2016 when we became an independent community church.

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The original sanctuary was dedicated in June 1869.  In 1906 the frame structure was raised to allow for a full basement, a new entrance, stained glass windows and brick veneer.  Work to add an educational building attached to the south end of the church was completed in 1958.  In 2010 we began acquiring additional property adjacent to the existing church.  Extensive renovations and a new expanded sanctuary and worship facility were completed in July 2025.

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Our vision is to fulfill the Great Commission by being a nurturing family of faith that especially cares for children and youth.  Please see the detailed statement of our core beliefs and values for further information.

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Prepared September 2025 by John A. Dick, Elder