HISTORY
Since 1792...
Ridge Valley's church building is situated on a 1.75 acre rural, wooded tract located outside the town of Sellersville in upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This tract of land originally belonged to the Guittleman family who received it from Richard Penn, William Penn's son, then proprietary governor of the state of Pennsylvania. In 1792, Henry Guittleman deeded the land equally to the Lutheran, Mennonite and Reformed congregations. In early times this area was known as Rich Valley (named after Richard Penn) and so was inscribed on the front cornerstone of the church.
The current church building was constructed in 1854. The Lutheran and Reformed congregations shared the building as a Union Church from 1854-1899. In 1899 the Lutheran congregation decided to separate and build a church home of their own. The Mennonites had moved on some years earlier.
The historic Ridge Valley one room school is adjacent to the church and utilized for youth activities. Our church building has been remodeled on several occasions to update the facility. However, these changes have been made with an effort to maintain the integrity of the building's historical past.
This photo of Ridge Valley Church on the left is believed to have been taken between 1899 and 1901. There is no bell tower and the east side has windows that are no longer there. The horse sheds protected the horses while services took place. St John's Lutheran church is shown on the right.
Ridge Valley Cemeteries
The first burials in Ridge Valley were thought to have taken place in the mid 1700’s.
It has been said that Lenape Indians may have been buried in unmarked graves in Old Ridge Valley Union Cemetery. The Old Ridge Valley Union Cemetery land was deeded to the Lutheran and Reformed Churches in 1792.
There are 3 cemeteries in Ridge Valley:
- Old Ridge Valley Union Cemetery #1 at the intersection of Allentown and Ridge Valley Roads (Cemetery is at capacity with many unmarked graves).
- Ridge Valley Union Hetrick Cemetery #2 by the Ridge Valley Creek (Cemetery is at capacity, and is a good example of a Victorian era garden cemetery)
- St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery and Cremation Garden at the intersection of Allentown and Finland Roads #3 (Interments and Cremation space available to members of both Ridge Valley churches).
The Cemeteries are managed under the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery Corporation.
Members of both Ridge Valley Churches serve on the board.
Please use this “Find a Grave” link for research on burials in the cemeteries.
“Find a Grave” is the most comprehensive and up to date resource we have on burials and genealogy for our cemeteries.
friends of ridge valley united church of christ
West Rockhill Historical Society
