Valley River Baptist Church

Our Church History

In 1943 one of the projects of First Baptist Church of Eugene was to organize Sunday Schools.  Across the Willamette river was a growing community, First Baptist Church obtained permission from the Willagillespie School Board to use the school building located west of Gillespie Butte to start a Sunday School.  In 1947 "regular preaching services" were added to the Sunday School, with Rev. Elwood Marvin the first full-time minister.  The same year 1.64 acres just north of the school were purchased on which to build a chapel.  First Baptist Church hired carpenters, the Willagillespie community donated much volunteer labor and materials, and on September 23, 1948 the building was dedicated.

In 1951 Willagillespie Community Baptist Chapel became an independent church.  In 1961 a new santuary was built which can seat 175.

While serving as interim pastor, Rev. Lewis Murdock helped persuade a retired American Baptist minister, Rev. Anderson Fraser, to come out of retirement to serve as pastor.  He accepted the church's call to the pastorate in 1978, with the proviso that he accept no recompense for his services, with the salary money being put toward badly needed improvements in the church facilities.

With God's guidance and Rev. Fraser's powerful leadership, attendance began to increase and much was accomplished during his five years as pastor.  The name of the church was changed to Valley River Baptist Church, to better identify with the changing community.  building improvements included remodeling of the Sunday School area (the original sanctuary), creating a parlor, a large, efficient kitchen, three classrooms, a nursery and new restrooms.  In 1981 a fellowship hall and 2 multipurpose rooms were added.

Due to deteriorating health Rev. Fraser retired in 1983.  two younger men have served as pastor since then.  The various phases of the master architectural plan created curing Rev. Fraser's leadership continue to be completed on a pay-as-you-go basis.  In 1989 an addition to the building was completed containing a pastor's study, church office, choir room and a beautiful new baptistry.  The next phase is the remodeling of the sanctuary to bring about more efficient heating and lighting, easier accessibility and a better sound system.

On January 16, 1996 Rev. H. Louis Engle became pastor.  Many things happened during his stay.  due to lack of funds we felt we needed to change our plans for the sanctuary.  We paneled the walls, installed new lighting, ceiling fans, new glass doors and new carpeting.  In his 10 years here we also painted the outside of the building and had a new roof put on.  We hope some day to move the baptistry back to the front of the sanctuary.  We were able to install a new sound system in the sanctuary.

On November 1, 1996 The Vine Christian Fellowship, an American Baptist mission church, joined us in the use of our building.  They needed a place to worship that they could afford and we needed the income to keep our ministry going.  When they decided to move into another building we were able to bring in His Church.  This has worked well for both churches.

In June of 2006 Rev. Engle retired.  The church went through three different interims before calling their current pastor.

On September 21, 2008 Rev. Rob Sturdivant and his family joined the church as the new pastor.