Riveroaks Reformed Presbyterian Church

On March 26, 1968, 20 charter members of Reformed Presbyterian Church met to consider the formation of a new church. The first worship service of Riveroaks, originally named First Reformed Presbyterian Church, was held on March 31, 1968. By July 1969, First Reformed Presbyterian Church purchased property on Massey Road, and on Thanksgiving Eve, 1969, they worshiped for the first time in their new facility. For the next eleven years, First Reformed’s congregation steadily grew and was faithfully led by three Senior Pastors: Rev. Leonard R. Van Horne (1968-1970), Rev. Ted Grayson (1970-1973), and Dr. C. Howard Oakley (1973-1980). 

In 1981, Riveroaks invited Rev. William Spink, Jr. to join the church as its Senior Pastor. Under the leadership of Rev. Spink, First Reformed Church altered its affiliation and in June 1982, was received into the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). By this time, discussions were underway to relocate to a larger property where a new church home could be built. In January 1983, 6.24 acres of undeveloped property on Germantown Road in Memphis were purchased. 

While organizing the change of location, the church voted in October 1983 to change its name from First Reformed Presbyterian Church to Riveroaks Reformed Presbyterian Church, keeping the “Reformed” name to emphasize its devotion to the truths of Scripture as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith. The new name for the church was based on Psalm I :3, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” 

God has blessed Riveroaks through the years seeing the campus built out to include offices and a nursery facility, a Fellowship Hall, a 500 seat Sanctuary, a three-story Education building, and most recently a top-shelf playground. The membership has grown to over 350 members plus children and students. 

In January of 2017, Riveroaks voted to update the Sanctuary and narthex.

Click here to learn more about the church https://www.riveroakspca.org/