Formerly known as Riverside Baptist Church, the current structure housing Riverside Church at Park and King was designed in 1926 by architect Addison Mizner, noted for his commissions in Boca Raton and Palm Beach. Mizner’s design integrates Romanesque, Byzantine, and Mission style architectural elements. To evoke a sense of antiquity, the interior walls were treated with buttermilk and burnt umber, and red floor tiles were imported from the remains of a 16th-century Spanish church. Blue-tinted windows positioned high on the walls and an amber window at the rear gable provide natural illumination. This church is the only documented religious structure designed by Mizner, and its location in northeast Florida distinguishes it within his body of work.

In 1997, the church left the Southern Baptist Convention after ordaining a gay deacon and continues to be a strong presence in support of LGBTQ+ rights. As an ecumenical Church in the Baptist tradition, the congregation voted to change its name to Riverside Church at Park and King to reflect its status as an open and affirming space in the community. The church is a leading member of the Interfaith Coalition for Action, Reconciliation, and Empowerment (ICARE), a local nonprofit organization advancing justice and fairness. The church hosts a weekly day of learning and social connection for the Free Range Learning Cooperative, a secular, open, and accepting homeschool community. Riverside Church also hosts meetings for Riverside Avondale Preservation and Greenlight Theatre Company, Bold City Opera performances, and the World AIDS Day memorial service.

A National Fund grant of $359,534 with equal matching funds raised by the congregation will allow Riverside Church to repair its clay tiled roof, pecky cedar door hardware, and stucco walls. The project also involves repairing stained glass windows and adding protective window panels so the church’s distinct sanctuary can be enjoyed by future generations.

Photo by Adam Gray