Our Church History
How Jacob Fogelsanger got to Shippensburg?
The Jacob Fogelsanger (Vogelsanger) family came to Philadelphia, PA in Oct. of 1761, having come from Hamburg, German on the ship “Snow Squirrel”. He left Germany because of religious persecution. Jacob settled in Lancaster County but his son David married Gertraut Minich, daughter of Wendell Minich and settled on a 140-acre farm previously owned by John and Margaret Byers, in the vicinity of Shippensburg, PA.
The Creation of "The Ridge" Church
One hundred sixty-two years later, we find their descendants John E. Fogelsanger and his wife Velva, still living on the same ground. John E. Fogelsanger was the fifth generation descendant of David Sr., and Gertraut Fogelsanger and was known to be German Baptist Brethren or a “Dunker” who was held in high esteem by all who knew them. John and Margaret were buried in the Fogelsanger Ridge Cemetery. The burial plot had been donated by David Sr., and was laid out several years before the Fogelsanger Ridge church was built. In the year 1842, the Ridge District was organized for the Brethren. Brother David Fogelsanger Jr., was the first ministering Elder followed later by Elder William Etter and Elder Joseph Gipe. Meetings were held in the homes of members until the The Fogelsanger Ridge Church was built in 1853. The land was given by David Fogelsanger Sr. David Jr., along with two brothers, Jacob and Wendell, and Sister Barbara, not only managed the building of this church, but largely financed it. Jacob was a bachelor and took the lead in the work, bearing the heavy part of the financial needs. He passed away in 1873 and was buried in Fogelsanger Ridge Cemetery. In his will, he provided a Dowry Fund for the church. This fund amounts to $60.00 per year and was to be used for the upkeep of the church and cemetery.
The Church denomination Joins the Church of the Brethern
In 1883, the denomination went through a schism over progressive issues and the new body, which emerged, became known as the Church of the Brethren. Fogelsanger Ridge followed with this group of Brethren. The denomination has seen seven such splinters throughout it 300-year history. All retain the name “Brethren” in some fashion such as; the Brethren Church (aka Ashland Brethren), Brethren in Christ, the Grace Brethren and the River Brethren to name a few. All however were and are referred to as “Dunkers” because of their practice of trine emersion baptism. Elder D.B. Wineman was the first applicant for baptism. Elder James A. Sell of Hollidaysburg, PA, at the age of nineteen, preached his first sermon at a Fogelsanger Ridge Love Feast Service.
Part of congregation split over musical instruments
In May of 1926, the Fogelsanger Ridge Church split dividing into two congregations, Fogelsanger Ridge and a newly formed Shippensburg Church. In 1927, musical instruments were first used for worship.
Additional donated land
About forty years ago, Charles and Clarence Fogelsanger gave the church an additional piece of land to be added to the cemetery. In addition, in 1948, a piece of land twenty-four feet wide, running along the back of the cemetery was given by Charles, Gertrude, John E. and Velva Fogelsanger. Then in 1952, a two-acre plot of land, south of the present churchyard was bought from John and Velva Fogelsanger for the sum of five-hundred dollars. The church is and continues to be deeply grateful for the kindness and generosity of the Fogelsanger family. In 1953, the Church celebrated its centennial, 100 years. The Congregations were advised by the Brotherhood, our national organization, to incorporate thus the Church name was shortened to The Ridge Church of the Brethren.
New Sanctuary and old sancuary
On November 30 of 1958, a new (current) sanctuary was dedicated and began use under the ministry of Brothers James Heckman and Elmer Hall. There was considerable debate on what to do with the old Church building but that decision was never made because lightning struck and burned it. A memorial plaque and the original steps remain where it once stood. In 1961, the Church moved to employ a full time pastor and purchased a parsonage. Several Full time Pastors have served the Church over the years witnessing change within and around the Church.
Education Matters
In 1975, an educational wing was added and the Church gained both a library and choir loft. Fifty years have passed and the Church Offices are now located in the parsonage.
Article II. Affirmation of Faith and Purpose (Beliefs)
This congregation:
A. God is a Person who has revealed Himself as a Trinity in unity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three Persons and yet but one God.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians8:6; Matthew 3:16-17; Titus 3:4- 7;John 1:14)
B. The Bible, including both the Old and the New Testaments, is a divine revelation, the original autographs of which were verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21;Psalms 18:30; Psalms 19:7-11)
C. Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, which to say, He is himself very God. He took upon Him our nature, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary; He died upon the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sin of the world; He arose from the dead in the body in which He was crucified; He ascended into Heaven in that body glorified, where He now sits at the righthand of God the Father as our interceding High Priest on our behalf; He will come again personally and visibly to set up His kingdom and to judge the living and the dead.
(Colossians 1:15; Philippians 2:5-8;Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Peter 2:24-25; Luke 24;
Hebrews 4:14-16; Acts 1:9-11; 1Thessalonians 4:16-18; Matthew 25:31-46;
Revelation 11:15-17; 20:4-6, 11-15)
D. Man was created in the image of God but fell into sin, and, in that sense, is lost; this is true of all men, and except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God; salvation is by grace through faith in Christ who bore our sins in His own body on the cross; the tribulation of the wicked and unbelieving and the reward of the righteous are everlasting, and as the reward is conscious, so is the retribution.
(Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:10, 23;John 3:3; Acts 13:38,39; 4:12; John 3:16;
Matthew 25:46; 2 Corinthians 5:1;Thessalonians 1:7-10)
E. The church is an elect company of believers baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body; its mission is to witness concerning its Head, Jesus Christ, preaching the Gospel among all nations; It will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air ere He appears to set up His kingdom.
(Acts 2:41, 15:13-17; Ephesians 1:3-6;1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Matthew 28:19- 20;1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
F. Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man and a woman, Ridge Church will only recognize marriages between one born as a man and one born as a woman. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-5; Mark 10:6-8). Ministers and staff of Ridge Church shall only perform weddings /solemn marriages between one born as a man and one born as a woman.
The facilities and properties of Ridge Church shall only be used for weddings or social gatherings (i.e. receptions, bridal showers, etc.) to celebrate the union of one born as a man and one born as a woman.
(Adopted by congregation on November 13, 2016)