River Road Presbyterian Church stands at 8960 River Road in Richmond, Virginia, and is known for two distinct Sunday worship gatherings and a wide church life around them. At 9 a.m., a conversational service in Saunders Hall pairs RiverSound with modern and time-honored hymns. At 11 a.m., the Sanctuary hosts a traditional service centered on scripture, corporate prayer, creeds, reflection, and music. The same spiritual message is taught in both. Families, students, adults, young adults, women, Scouters, musicians, and volunteers share the church's formation and mission work.
A Conversational 9:00 Service and a Traditional 11:00 Service
The 9 a.m. Informal Worship service is conversational and non-liturgical. A band of musicians and singers leads music that may include modern worship songs and familiar older hymns, with moments of prayer and praise. It takes place in Saunders Hall and offers a more informal setting than the 11 a.m. gathering. The message does not change between services; each is intended to help worshipers feel comfortable and connected to God and to the church community.
The 11 a.m. Traditional Worship service celebrates time-honored liturgy and hymns in the Sanctuary. Strong emphasis falls on Scripture, corporate prayer and creeds, and personal reflection. Choir, organ, piano, and other instruments lead the singing. The atmosphere and music differ from the morning service, but both services teach the same spiritual message and welcome people at any point on their journey of faith.
Those unable to worship in person can join the livestream of either service. Past services are available in the church's YouTube sermon archive by Sunday afternoon, and sermons can also be heard as a podcast on Spotify.
Coffee, Breakfast Bites, and the 10:00 Hour
Sunday mornings include free coffee and breakfast bites from 8:30 for people attending the 9 a.m. service, with options suitable for children. Greeters welcome people at the entrances and help them find rooms.
- East or River Road entrance
- West or North Mooreland Road entrance
- East or River Road parking lot, with accessible parking
- North or Central parking lot
- West or Mooreland Road parking lot
At 10 a.m., groups and classes for all ages meet between the two services. Adult classes are spread through the main building, while children and youth meet in the Monroe Wells Education Building. Three adult classes meet: SALT in Kemp Hall, the Martin B. Williams Bible Study class in Room 01, and a Young Adult class in the Parlor. SALT gathers over coffee for fellowship and faith growth, while the Bible Study class combines thoughtful lessons, familiar hymns, and conversation.
RRPC 101 is a recurring Sunday orientation held at 10 a.m. in the Library next to Saunders Hall. It introduces the church and helps newcomers find a place in its community. Church office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Friday visits by appointment when possible.
Nursery Care and the Sunday School Path
Nursery care is available during both worship services and Sunday School in the Monroe Wells Education Building. Professional, background-checked caregivers care for children from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Infants through 24 months are in Room 101, and two- and three-year-olds are in Room 102. The program balances purposeful play-based learning, Bible storytelling, art, and music in a nurturing setting so parents can take part fully in worship and adult classes.
Pathways, the Sunday School program for Pre-K fours through fifth grade, explores God's Big Story through interactive experiences, reflective wondering, dramatic storytelling, and activities. Sixth and seventh graders begin with Breakfast Fellowship before gathering for interactive faith activities. High school classes study Bible and theology, ethics and Christian living, and more complex questions about faith in age-appropriate ways.
Confirmation is a year-long class for eighth graders and older that prepares students to join River Road as members. It welcomes both regular Sunday School participants and students attending for the first time. Bob Shenk and Bob Spicknall lead the class. Children are also welcome in worship: each service includes Time with the Young People and a special message for children, followed by age-appropriate enrichment. Worship Bags for pre-readers and readers include Bible-themed worksheets, drawing paper, and crayons.
Youth Fellowship and the Midweek Rhythm
The youth fellowship gathers at 6 p.m. every Sunday in the High School Youth Room. Middle and high schoolers share a meal, talk about following Jesus, and play active games. The ministry is intended to train and disciple young people to know, love, and follow Jesus while making room for hospitality, fun, and spiritual transformation.
Wednesday is another cornerstone of church life. During the program year, Wednesday Night Suppers take place in Saunders Hall from fall through spring. Some evenings include pub-style trivia or a gingerbread-house activity; others feature a guest speaker for adults and a supervised activity for children. A visitor's first supper is provided, and reservations are accepted through the church's online signup. Music programs generally follow dinner.
The Children's Choir rehearses at 6:30 p.m., the Adult Chancel Choir at 7 p.m., and Handbells at 8:15 p.m. The praise band gathers in Saunders Hall after dinner. These groups give children, adults, and musicians regular ways to serve through music.
Adult Learning, Thursday Prayer, and Young Adults
Adult learning continues through the SALT class during the Sunday School hour. Its discussions rotate among relating faith to public affairs, examining parables, noticing details in Scripture that first appear incidental, and considering the teaching of Jesus. The Martin B. Williams class offers Bible stories, favorite hymns, coffee, and fellowship. Both classes are intentionally informal and open to conversation.
On Thursdays, a virtual prayer group meets at noon to pray for the church, its staff and programs, Christ's church, particular needs, the nation, and the world. The hour includes adoration, praise, gratitude, and intercession. A separate Thursday Afternoon Bible Study meets by Zoom from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., studies one book of the Bible at a time, and welcomes participants at any point.
Young adults have an active community for fellowship and spiritual growth. Their Sunday class meets at 10 a.m. in the Parlor, and a Young Women's Circle meets monthly at 7:30 p.m. for Bible study and conversation. The Young Adult Subcommittee also plans periodic educational and spiritual opportunities.
Music and Arts at the Heart of Worship
Music is a major part of River Road's worship and arts ministry, which seeks to equip people to use their creative gifts in service to the Church. Director of Worship and Arts Rich Thomas Copeland works with artists, musicians, and creative leaders to build a welcoming music and arts ministry. Director of Traditional Music and Organist Grant Holcomb leads the organ and choral tradition, while Accompanist and Principal Pianist Rita Smith supports the church's musical teams.
Together with RiverSound, the chancel choir, children's choir, handbells, and occasional instrumentalists, they support both worship services. Copeland is a Richmond native and Belmont University graduate who has founded contemporary choirs and served churches in several countries. Holcomb holds degrees in organ performance from the University of Kentucky, and Smith has worked as a church accompanist for more than 16 years. Their work seeks to deepen worship, enrich community life, and invite people of all ages to serve through creative expression.
Serving Richmond, Appalachia, and Malawi
Mission work begins close to home. Mercy Mall distributes free clothing, housewares, baby items, and other goods to people in crisis, and River Road donates items throughout the year. The church supports LAMB's Basket, a food pantry serving Richmond's hungry, with regular donations of nonperishable food. It provides meals and assistance to CARITAS, which provides housing and support for people experiencing homelessness, and partners with Rebuilding Together Richmond on repairs to area homes.
Youth and adults have participated in the Appalachian Service Project since 1996. Teams spend a week restoring and rebuilding homes in Appalachia for families who could not otherwise afford the work, doing jobs that can include painting, flooring, roofing, ramps, and other repairs. Over 25 summers beginning in 1996, 251 youth and 80 adults took part. The work included more than 30,000 man-hours of home repair, nine former youth participants who returned as adult leaders, and two former youth participants who served on the trip's staff.
Beyond Richmond, River Road supports children and families through World Pediatric Project by sponsoring children for lifesaving surgery, welcoming a child and caregiver to Richmond for care at VCU Health, and providing fellowship during their stay. Its Military Support Committee sends care packages and messages to service members stationed overseas and collects toiletry items and healthy snacks for them. The church has also supported Medical Benevolence Foundation for more than 50 years, including training and telemedicine links to a major hospital that expanded medical capacity at the Kasina Clinic in Malawi. An annual Rise Against Hunger gathering brings generations together to assemble and package 25,000 meals.
Scouting and Presbyterian Women
Scouting is another substantial part of church life. River Road sponsors Cub Scout Pack 770 for boys ages 6 to 10 and Boy Scout Troop 770 for boys ages 11 to 17. The program emphasizes character, citizenship, fitness, responsibility, hobbies, and friendship. The church also supports Girl Scouts from Daisy through Ambassador levels, helping girls develop personal responsibility, goal-setting, teamwork, service, sound decision-making, and an understanding of their place in the world.
Presbyterian Women welcomes all women for prayer, Bible study, mission, justice and peace work, and an inclusive, caring community. The Young Women's Circle meets the first Sunday of each month at 7:30 p.m., generally in a member's home, for Bible reading, confidential conversation, advice, and support. The Evening Circle meets on the first Tuesday from September through June for food and fellowship, while the Daytime Lunch Circle gathers in Kemp Hall on the first Tuesday of the school year with a bag lunch. Mission projects include the World Pediatric Project, cards and toiletries for From the Heart, and books for the Virginia Correction Center for Women.
Pastors, Deacons, and the Session
Congregational care is carried by pastors working with deacons. Pastors offer a listening ear, encouragement, spiritual insight, and referrals for conversations involving joy, concern, health, family changes, or theological questions. They are not certified professional counselors. Deacons help connect people with the church's support network and work with pastors when pastoral care is needed. Candace Branch and Bob Spicknall lead the Diaconate.
River Road is governed locally by a Session of elders, with a Diaconate caring for the congregation and trustees overseeing finances. The Session is supported by ministries for Christian Education, Congregational Care, Fellowship and Hospitality, Growth and Outreach, Leadership Development, Mission and Service, Personnel, Property, Stewardship and Finance, and Worship and Music. The Every Member in Ministry approach calls people to use their talents and passions in service to God, neighbors, and the church. Columbarium trustees oversee another part of the church's facilities.
Early Learning Center and Wedding Celebrations
The River Road Early Learning Center operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the church address. Its educational leadership emphasizes an inclusive, developmentally appropriate, academically rich environment for every child. Executive Director Theresa Campbell brings more than ten years of experience in teaching, curriculum, and program direction and is pursuing an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
The RRPC Wedding Guild is a team of volunteers who coordinate ceremonies and receptions at the church. From early planning through the wedding day, guild members assist with scheduling, logistics, and coordination so couples can shape a joyful and meaningful celebration.
Giving and Endowed Funds
Giving is described as a response to God's grace, which is undeserved and unearned. Contributions support worship and music, education, care for the church family, and ministry beyond Richmond. Online giving, text-to-give, and annual pledge commitments support the church's work.
Planned giving can take the form of current outright gifts, real estate, personal property, securities, or testamentary gifts. River Road also holds endowed funds, which distribute income while preserving principal, and non-endowed funds for ministry, operating, and capital purposes. Legacy gifts may support the Endowment Fund or the General Operating Fund, allowing gifts to strengthen ministry in the present and future.
Leadership for Worship, Learning, and Care
Reverend Dr. W. Clay Macaulay serves as Interim Pastor and Head of Staff. He directed alumni development at Union Presbyterian Seminary from 2016 to 2024 and previously spent thirty years as a pastor in congregations before returning to Richmond. Ansley Higginbotham, Director of Christian Education, has more than two decades of experience with children, youth, and family ministry. Rev. Joe Torrence, Director of Youth Ministry, has led youth ministries for twenty years and works as Community Engagement Manager at the Children's Museum of Richmond. Theresa Campbell leads the Early Learning Center. Rich Copeland, Grant Holcomb, and Rita Smith serve as worship and arts director, traditional music and organ director, and accompanist and principal pianist, respectively.
River Road Presbyterian Church is part of the Presbytery of the James and the Presbyterian Church (USA). Its identity is found in the pairing of two worship styles, education from infancy through adulthood, creative music ministry, congregational care, Scouting and women's circles, and service directed toward Richmond, Appalachia, Malawi, military service members, and people receiving medical care. The church life is built around shared worship, formation across generations, and active service beyond its own walls.