Our Story

A church should be about people, and Riverside Porto is proud of the love and care that it shows to its members, friends and visitors. Here, in our church community, you will find true family, a genuinely warm welcome and time to share together before and after the meeting.

Riverside Porto started in 2003: 

During the summer of 2003, several unconnected people in Porto and Cascais started to believe that God wanted a new English-language church community in the North of Portugal. Later that year a team from Riverside International Church of Cascais (near Lisbon) and Christian Associates International, a church planting organization based in the USA and in Holland, met with the Porto-based mission team of Grace Brethren International Missions, an American missionary society, and with a number of individuals and church leaders in the city. The outcome of those meetings was that, after a year of planning and preparation, Bill and Tina Mason moved to Porto and the new church opened its doors in Aguda, Vila Nova de Gaia.

In 2013 the Church Moved from Vila Nova de Gaia to Boavista Porto:

In October 2013, the church moved closer to the heart of the city of Porto, just off the Boavista roundabout. It was an opportunity to not only be in a more accessible and central location but also to be closer to our community. Riverside Porto shared a building with Comunidade Cristã Restauração, a Portuguese-speaking church. The bigger space was just what was needed for the church to grow and expand its ministries.

In 2014 Carlos and Ria Silvéria took over leadership of the Church: 

In January 2014 the founders, Bill and Tina Mason, stepped down from leadership pending their return to the UK and Carlos and Ria Silvéria have been chosen as the new leaders.

In 2021 church moved from Boavista to Bonfim Porto to accommodate its growth:

In 2021 Riverside Porto separated from Comunidade Cristã Restauração, a Portuguese-speaking church and went on to stand alone. Due to the growing demand for the English-speaking community in Porto, the church moved to its new location in Bonfim to accommodate this growth.

Partnership/Involvement/Influence

Riverside Porto is partners in ministry with Riverside International Church - Cascais, Lisbon, Coimbra and Albufeira (Algarve).

Since the opening of the church we have had the pleasure of the company of literally hundreds of internationally-minded people. Some visited us for a very short time; many for much longer, but our vision has never changed. The church provides a place of meeting and friendship for the international community; it provides a place for believers to grow in their faith during their stay in Portugal; it provides a safe place for anyone to hear the Good News that man can have a restored relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As our influence has grown we have been involved with the sporting community; the business community; the expatriate population and the university community amongst others. We are thrilled that the Kingdom (or the influence) of Almighty God is spreading in this region.