A Church at the Heart of Old Metairie
Set on Phosphor Avenue in Old Metairie, Metairie Ridge Presbyterian Church has been part of the neighborhood's life for more than a century. The congregation is known across the area for its long-running commitment to children and families through its Daycare, Child Development Center, and Vacation Bible School, and for a quiet, traditional worship that draws people from Metairie and across the New Orleans area. Its motto, taken from a reflection on being the change a community hopes to see, points to a faith rooted in service at home and beyond.
From a Sunday School on Metairie Road
Metairie Ridge began in 1913 as a Sunday school started to give the children of Protestant parents in the neighborhood a formal Christian education. The first classes met in a home on Metairie Road near Stella Street; within six months they had outgrown the space and moved into a two-room wooden school building on the site of what is now Metairie Middle School. In 1919 land was purchased at Codifer Boulevard and Phosphor Avenue, and in 1920 the Presbytery of New Orleans approved the official organization of Metairie Ridge Presbyterian Church with 51 charter members. Construction on the first church building began in 1922, and that building was dedicated in 1924.
As the only Presbyterian church in the area, MRPC grew steadily. A vested choir was established in 1934 to lead worship. In the early 1950s the church called its first associate pastor, an education building was added in 1951, and by 1954 a second worship service was needed. The Hugo fellowship hall followed in the late 1950s to accommodate large congregational gatherings, and the cornerstone of the present sanctuary was laid in March 1957. The first service in the new sanctuary was held that June. A new education wing, called the Bracey building, was dedicated in 1965 to serve the growing Church School.
Worship in the Reformed Tradition
Sunday gatherings at Metairie Ridge follow a traditional order of worship shaped by the Reformed tradition. The dress is casual, and all are welcome regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, marital status, social class, ability, or religious affiliation. Adult Sunday School meets at 9:00 a.m., and the worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month. For those who cannot attend in person, the service is streamed live on Facebook.
The church is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Presbytery of South Louisiana. Through worship, prayer, fellowship, and mission, members describe growing in faith individually and as a community. The Rev. David Watson has served as Pastor and Head of Staff since August 1, 2018. Before coming to MRPC, he worked for Baptist Community Ministries and served as a chaplain for the New Orleans Police Department, earning Board Certification in Chaplaincy through the Association of Professional Chaplains. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and completed a chaplaincy residency at Seton Medical Center in Austin, where he served as Trauma Chaplain at Dell Children's Medical Center and ICU Chaplain.
A Lifelong Commitment to Children
Few things distinguish Metairie Ridge more in the community than its work with young children. The congregation operates two licensed early childhood programs out of its campus.
Metairie Ridge Daycare is a state-licensed Type I center serving children from six weeks through three years old. It operates year-round, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and its mission is to provide a safe and loving environment. Rachel Legrand serves as director, and the daycare can be reached at (504) 831-2887 or metridgedaycare@gmail.com.
Metairie Ridge Child Development Center serves children twelve months (walking) through five years old. The CDC offers an educational experience in a Christian atmosphere of love, promoting the physical, social, cognitive, and spiritual development of young children. Teachers recognize that learning at this age can be both fun and challenging. The same director, Rachel Legrand, oversees the CDC, reachable at (504) 831-2887 or metairieridgecdc@gmail.com. Vacation Bible School is a longstanding part of the congregation's summer rhythm.
Mission and Outreach Beyond the Church
Metairie Ridge extends its ministry well beyond its own campus. Three local partnerships give members regular ways to serve neighbors in need.
Okra Abbey is a community garden and sacred space in the Pigeon Town neighborhood of New Orleans. It exists both as a place to grow food to share with neighbors and as a place where people grow in friendship alongside one another. Okra Abbey is a mission of the Presbytery of South Louisiana and a New Worshipping Community of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Volunteers help with harvesting, planting, and maintaining the garden.
The church collects nonperishable food items for a community pantry, and Grace and Greens, a free community meal, is served every Wednesday at noon - a gathering that doubles as a way to meet neighbors across the wider community.
Metairie Ridge also partners with Jefferson Presbyterian Church in operating a Second Harvest Food Bank to address hunger in the community. Distribution takes place on the first and third Saturday of each month, and volunteers are welcome on those days.
A Place for Weddings
The Metairie Ridge sanctuary is available for weddings, and couples from across the New Orleans area choose the church for its setting and history. A wedding at MRPC is first and foremost an act of worship and a covenant with God, with marriage understood as a gift given for the well-being of the entire human family. Membership is not required; couples are asked to make the decision with prayer and to begin the application process early, as popular dates are reserved quickly. Inquiries can be directed to the church office at (504) 833-6357 or to the Wedding Coordinator at churchadministrator@metairieridgepc.org.
Welcoming All Along the Journey
The congregation describes itself as a community of believers seeking to share God's love with neighbors around them and in the larger world. Wherever someone finds themselves in their faith journey - even if they had not realized they were on one - the invitation is to come and explore what it means to follow Jesus Christ. The church's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and donations can be made online through PayPal.