Our History

To the glory of God, Riverside has been a vehicle of gospel ministry in the Huntsville community since the early 1930’s. Throughout our history, as both the leadership and the community around us have changed, God has shown Himself strong at Riverside.

In the 1930′s, a Baptist missions outreach south of Huntsville by Rev. Alf Bell launched both the Muskoka Baptist Camp on Mary Lake (the current day Muskoka Bible Centre) and Brunel Baptist Church, located opposite School #4 on Britannia Road. On October 4, 1942, Reverend Bell called a special meeting for the people who had been meeting in this location for the purpose of “organizing a regular Baptist church”, marking the official birth of current day Riverside Baptist Church.

Pastor Jack Adams came in 1945 and the church grew rapidly with many conversions and baptisms. Under his leadership, the church relocated to North Mary Lake Road in 1949 and was constituted on August 2, 1951, as Locks Baptist Church.

It was then Rev. Bill Piper’s vision that led Locks Baptist Church to purchase the present 5-acre property at the corner of Brunel Road and Riverside Drive. Our current building was constructed and dedicated in the early 1970’s under the leadership of the energetic Dr. C. B. Hayden.

Rev. Don Brubacher arrived in 2002 and the church enjoyed much growth in the church family and outreach ministries. He led the church through a building project in January 2009 with a new foyer and offices addition. This made more room for church fellowship and ministry expansion.

Ryan Maxson was called as Senior Pastor in March 2020 and was ordained by the church shortly after. Despite the over 2 years of lockdowns in Ontario, the church instituted a plurality of lay elders and a full-time associate pastor of family ministries was hired. While meeting outside to worship, the church grew, and a second service was added when we resumed worshiping indoors.