Set just off Route 29 near the Greene and Albemarle County line, Spring Hill Baptist Church has shaped life in Ruckersville for more than 170 years. Members of the congregation say the church's identity is bound to three rhythms: gathering in a 170-year-old sanctuary on Sunday mornings, raising the next generation at Kids Club and Fusion, and serving neighbors through Dover-Foxcroft Farm, the local food bank, and mission partners around the world. The church's stated vision is to bring hope, share Christ, and impact the world; its stated mission is to create opportunities to follow Jesus.
A Heritage That Goes Back to a Sawmill Shed
The story of Spring Hill starts long before the present building. Members began meeting around 1850, gathering "under the chestnuts and oaks at the headwaters of Marsh Run on the north end of Poindexter's Mountain (Piney Mountain) on a ridge called Spring Hill." The early group is said to have met under a shed formerly occupied by a sawmill. The Spring Hill Baptist Church Meetings Book, covering 1854 to 1873, preserves that record. Those believers formally joined the Baptist General Assembly in 1856. What began as shade-tree gatherings became a congregation of multiple generations, and the church now identifies itself as a church serving Ruckersville, Charlottesville, Stanardsville, and Earlysville.
Sundays at 9 and 11:15 in the Sanctuary
Sunday is the heartbeat of the church, with two morning services in the historic sanctuary at 2620 Frays Mill Road. Services begin at 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM and last about 60 minutes each. Each gathering opens with the Spring Hill band leading congregational music, with song lyrics projected on screens so worshipers can sing along or simply engage in their own way. Senior Pastor Steve Nethery then shares an encouraging, hope-filled message about Jesus. The 9:00 AM service is also livestreamed on Facebook every Sunday morning and remains available on YouTube afterward. For a first-time guest, the dress code is intentionally relaxed. As the church puts it, you will see casual dress as well as Sunday best, "however it's how you feel most comfortable." Children are welcome in the worship services; the whole family worships together before kids head to their own age-appropriate spaces.
From Nursery Through Twelfth Grade
Spring Hill operates a full children's ministry running concurrently with the second worship hour. Kids Club welcomes children from 6 weeks old through fifth grade and meets Sundays from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. The teaching team focuses on three truths kids repeat throughout the year: that God loves them, that they can trust God no matter what, and that they should love others the way Jesus loves them. Programming includes games, music, stories, and small group time designed to help each child apply God's truth to daily life. Every volunteer is background-checked, and the playground and parking area are covered by security cameras. A community playground on the property is open to the public, is handicap-accessible, and is described as toddler-friendly. Children's Minister Chris Marcoguiseppe and her team also maintain a resource page where parents can stream Bible lessons at home through the church's YouTube channel and Facebook presence.
The student ministry serves young people in sixth through twelfth grade. Students worship with their families in the sanctuary first, then head to middle school and high school small groups from 10:15 to 11:00 AM. Associate Pastor Jack Dunham oversees the ministry and teaches with an interactive style suited to multiple learning styles. The stated goal is for students to understand who Jesus is and how He can make a difference in their lives, summarized by the ministry's three words: Accepted, Belong, Cared-For. Families can opt in to text updates by texting the word YOUTH to 434-423-5300.
Fusion Sundays at the Farm
Sunday evenings belong to Fusion, the student ministry's worship-and-hangout gathering. Fusion meets from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Dover-Foxcroft Farm in fair weather, with Spring Hill's main building as the backup when the weather turns. A typical evening includes a time of teaching from God's Word, music, and space to make new friends. When the weather is good, the group uses the farm's open spaces; the retreat center on the property hosts the meeting in rain, cold, or heat. The student text line keeps families in the loop about schedule changes and devotions between Fusion nights.
Small Groups for Every Season of Adult Life
Spring Hill organizes its adult ministry around small groups that meet both in person and online. The church promotes five tracks: Young Adults, Co-ed Adult, Senior Adult, Women, and Men. Women's Bible studies run on Sunday mornings and during the week; men's ministry includes First Friday Prayer Breakfast at 5:45 AM, a hearty breakfast, fellowship, and prayer for families, community, and nation. A Special Needs Ministry runs an All-Inclusive Game Night on the first Friday of each month at 6:30 PM. Online connection happens through the Spring Hill Baptist Church Family Facebook group and through Spring Hill Devotions on the YouVersion Bible app. Anyone interested in starting a new group is invited to become a local group leader.
Dover-Foxcroft Farm: 82 Acres Along Spring Hill Road
Dover-Foxcroft Farm is the church's 82-acre property on Spring Hill Road in Ruckersville, set against panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The grounds include a pond, walking trails, and a barn, plus a retreat center and cottage that can be rented for weddings, family gatherings, or business events. The farm is open to the public from dawn to dusk and hosts the church's free community events throughout the year. Visitors are asked to respect the private residence space of the farm house and cottage, drive slowly, and leave only footprints; the property is maintained by volunteers. Photographers are welcome and encouraged to tag @SHBCFamily when they share their images.
The farm's signature fall event is Trick or Trunk, a free, family-friendly festival featuring more than 30 decorated trunks, music, hot dogs, popcorn, and candy. Highlights include hayrides with mountain views, inflatables, face painting, barrel train rides, a costume contest, a Pumpkin Path Parable walk with devotionals, and visits from local food trucks. Spring Hill also hosts Kids Fishing Day and a community Prayer Walk on the property, in addition to Fusion's weekly meetings.
Baptism in the Pond, the Lake, or the Font
Spring Hill practices believer's baptism by full immersion as a public declaration of three things: that the person baptized is a follower of Jesus Christ, is beginning a changed life in Christ, and is part of a new family. Baptism services happen several times a year in different settings, including the Dover-Foxcroft Farm pond, Chris Greene Lake, and the baptismal font inside the sanctuary. For infants and small children, the church offers Family Dedication as a parallel commitment between parents and God, leaving believer's baptism for when a child is old enough to make a personal confession of faith. Pastors are happy to talk through what baptism looks like for a child or an adult whose earlier baptism did not reflect a personal decision to follow Jesus.
Beliefs at the Core
Spring Hill's foundational confession is short and intentionally clear: the foundations of faith are Baptism, Communion, and Belonging to a Community of Believers. The church's stated core values are compassion, collaboration, and commitment, expressed in its partnerships with believers near and far. Steve Nethery often frames the church's calling in three phrases: bring hope, share Christ, and impact the world.
Local Outreach Across Greene and Albemarle Counties
The Care Team ministers to people in need across the community. The Christmas Gift Ministry partners with GRACE, the Greene Alliance of Church and Community Efforts, to provide gifts for vulnerable families with children age 14 and under. Feeding Greene and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank partnership channels food resources and volunteer time into local pantries, including a Backpack Program supported by Vacation Bible School donations. Tuesday's Table prepares meals for community members struggling with food security. The Thanksgiving Box Ministry also partners with GRACE to provide full Thanksgiving meals for families in need. A ministry team visits the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) day program at the Greene County Library the first Tuesday of each month from September through June at 10 AM. Hope for Appalachia sends a team to rural Kentucky each year to serve schoolchildren with school supplies, toys, and the Easter message. Operation Christmas Child uses Spring Hill as a regional shoebox collection site, and the church partners with the Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief Response Team through the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) for disaster response. The V3 Movement supports church planting throughout Virginia and across the nation.
From Charlottesville to the Philippines
Globally, Spring Hill supports the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering through the International Mission Board, helping underwrite missionaries sent through the Southern Baptist Convention. The church partners with International Students, Inc. at the University of Virginia to build relationships with college students from around the world. Two missionary families are supported directly. Bob and Celia Munson serve in Baguio City, Philippines, with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board as Missionary Ambassadors at Bukal Life Care and Counseling Center, where they focus on Christian counseling, chaplaincy training, and missions education. Aaron and Emma Smith serve the urban poor in Manila through Servant Partners; Aaron leads the Manila team and teaches in the Global Urban Training School at Asian Theological Seminary, while Emma teaches GED classes to out-of-school youth and disciples women and children. Spring Hill says that, in a typical year, nearly 30 percent of the church's total income supports mission causes locally, nationally, and internationally.
Plan a Visit, Join a Team, Stay in the Loop
Anyone planning a first visit can fill out a Plan Your Visit form online. The connection team offers to greet guests at the door, introduce them to friendly people, help with kids' check-in, save a seat in the service, and make sure each visitor meets Pastor Steve. A follow-up is offered after the visit to answer any lingering questions. Volunteer opportunities span six teams: Worship, Ministry, Teaching, Operations, Special Events, and Media/Digital, with operations team members earning the right to wear the church's signature orange vests. Giving is offered online through Raisely, by text (text GIVE to 434-423-5300), by PayPal, by check mailed to the church office, through bank bill pay, and through stock or other assets coordinated with the finance team. Sermon notes, events, and weekly opportunities roll out each week in This Week at Spring Hill, and text alerts go out when users text SHBC to 434-423-5300. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Eastern Time at 2620 Frays Mill Road, Ruckersville, VA 22968.