Riverside Primitive Baptist Church
Riverside Primitive Baptist Church
Church History Return to Homepage
In the early 1920’s, several Jacksonville residents met from time to time to worship in Primitive Baptist services. The worshippers met in private homes, as well as in the Odd Fellows Hall located in the heart of downtown. Riverside Primitive Baptist Church was formally organized and constituted by Elders R. H. Barwick and J. Marshall Thomas, on January 31, 1923, with fifteen charter members. The name “Riverside” was apparently selected since the church was to be located in the section of the city known as Riverside. Following the constitution service, the church called Elder R. H. Barwick to serve as the first pastor.
The church did not build a building, and until October, 1924 all baptisms were held in the St. John’s River, at a small beach near the mouth of Long Branch Creek. The church purchased a building from a Church of Christ congregation in September, 1924. The building was located at Lackawanna Avenue and Grape Street. (Some time later the street names were changed to Edison Avenue and Ernest Street.) The two Ladies’ Circles of the church bought a real estate lot a few blocks away, at 702 Dellwood Avenue, and deeded the lot to the church in July, 1938. In 1941 the church voted to move its building to the property on Dellwood Avenue. Once the building was moved, it was professionally remodeled, enlarged and veneered in “Ocala Limestone.” The first service was held in the newly remodeled building on August 23, 1942.
The church’s Primitive Baptist Youth Fellowship was organized on September 2, 1947. In the late 1940’s, the church added a building addition to house Bible Study rooms, a kitchen and church office. In 1954, the church purchased its first parsonage. On October 2, 1955, the church held its first Homecoming service, which has been held annually since that date. In January, 1956, the church installed an organ, which remains in use today. Also during 1956, the church established the L. S. Kinnebrew Memorial Fund, a benevolence fund named in remembrance of a charter member and devoted deacon who had died in 1954.
The church continued to grow in harmony and unity, and accomplished various building improvements and upgrades. In the early 1970s the Bible Study program was reorganized. During the 1970s and 1980s the Lord blessed the church in many ways, adding over 100 new members, permitting many physical renovations including a new choir loft, and blessing inter-city Primitive Baptist cooperative efforts. In 1992, the church purchased a new parsonage.
Over the years, God has blessed the church to support the Bethany Home, Birdwood College, Florida Primitive Baptist Youth Camp (Camp Sonlight), Florida Primitive Baptist Deacons Association, the Primitive Baptist Foundation and other denominational efforts and organizations. We at Riverside Church thank God for His wonderful blessings through the years.
RIVERSIDE PASTORS
Elder R. H. Barwick Elder Fred M. Williams
Elder J. Fred Hartley Elder Herbert L. Chapman
Elder J. Harley Chapman Elder Reid B. Davis
Elder R. B. Brantley Elder George A. Daunhauer
Elder W. T. Cook Elder Tom Akins
Elder J. Ernest Thomas (Interim) Elder Steve Flowers
Elder David O. Payne Elder George A. Daunhauer
Elder Mike Newman (Current Pastor)