Hanceville’s Riverside Church celebrates 75 years

The year was 1936. A revival held in the Hanceville area caused the birth of a new church plant. Small but thriving, the church plant became Riverside Baptist Church.

Seventy-five years later, the church still blooms.

Pastor Wendell Peterson has led the 50-member congregation for five years and encouraged it to “keep on keepin’ on” at the July 17 anniversary celebration.

That day, the sanctuary was filled with more than 80 people — some former members and family of current members. Duwayne Kelly, Riverside Baptist’s pastor in 1966, shared the evangelistic message, and Nancy Beasley of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission presented a commemorative certificate. Randy Makemson, East Cullman Baptist Association’s director of missions, also attended and said the celebration created an “ecstatic atmosphere” at the church. A fellowship lunch followed the service, and “most people didn’t want to leave when [the celebration] was over,” Peterson said.