Our Story
Our story begins in 1812, when a Scottish preacher named Alexander Crawford performed Prince Edward Island’s first recorded baptisms by immersion in the Brudenell River and established a small congregation that became known as Three Rivers Baptist Church. Over the next 200 years, that congregation experienced seasons of revival and seasons of hardship. They planted new churches, endured painful divisions, rebuilt after devastating fires, and remained committed to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ throughout Montague and the surrounding Three Rivers region.
In 2014, the congregation then known as Montague United Baptist Church found itself without a pastor and facing a declining, aging membership. Through conversations initiated by Jim and Isabelle Slater, the church entered into a partnership with Cornerstone Baptist Church, a growing multi-site church serving Cornwall and Stratford. The congregation voted to become part of the Cornerstone family, relaunching in 2015 as Cornerstone Baptist Church – Montague. During the following decade of partnership, the church sought to be deeply rooted in the gospel, and was enabled to become actively engaged in the community and intentional about raising up a new generation of disciples in Montague.
In 2024, after a season of prayer and discernment, the congregations of all three Cornerstone sites voted overwhelmingly to conclude the multi-site model and establish each location as its own locally rooted, self-governing church. As part of that process, Cornerstone Montague is in process of becoming Riverside Church. With the blessing of our denominational family, the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada, Riverside officially launches on September 1, 2026.
We remain deeply connected to the historic witness of the Baptist churches that have faithfully served this community before us while believing that every generation is called to embody the unchanging gospel afresh in its own time and place. Our desire is to be a church rooted in Christ, growing together, and seeking the flourishing of our community as we follow Jesus and invite others to do the same.
OUR CORE VALUES
Loving
Community
We believe people flourish when they experience life with Jesus and one another. We want a church family where people are known, loved, and cared for.
We cultivate the soil of healthy community through things like Table Sunday, Greenhouse groups, serving together, and other community gatherings.
Biblical
Faithfulness
Scripture is our authority and shapes everything we believe and do. We seek not only to know God's Word but to understand it truly and live it out in daily life.
We grow deeper in this through faithful preaching, community Bible study, and formation that equips people to follow Jesus with confidence.
Ongoing Transformation
Following Jesus is a lifelong journey. Through the Holy Spirit, God continually forms us to become more like Christ.
We nurture this through following the spiritual rhythms of Jesus, authentic relationships, and support groups.
Missional
Living
We live as witnesses bearing the fruit of what we’ve experienced with Jesus personally, locally, and globally.
Fruit of this looks like like personally loving our neighbours, people in our circles, loving the greater community together as the church, and investing in the work of God across the globe in partnerships.
Board of Directors
Staff
