About Us

Many years ago, while Pastor Chris Baker of the Knotty Oak Baptist Church (KOBC) in Coventry, RI and his wife Nancy were attending a wedding in Portsmouth, RI, they immediately fell in love with the beauty of the community. His love for the Island increased as he served two year-long terms as interim pastor for two churches on Aquidneck Island. Over the years, Pastor Chris’ and Nancy’s favorite day trips began in Jamestown and ended in Portsmouth. 

He dreamed of eventually retiring in this part of the state. However, he had an even greater dream. The dream of establishing a Bible-believing Baptist church in beautiful Portsmouth. With a passion for sharing the gospel; a desire to disciple believers and much prayer, Pastor Baker worked to initiate KOBC’s first church plant, the Heritage Baptist Church in Portsmouth.

In 2018, Heritage Baptist Church (HBC) began with a single soul, a handmade sign, and the belief that God was going to do something amazing. The beginning of HBC is a story of perseverance and faithfulness. For months, a ministry team from Knotty Oak Baptist Church would come and worship at the old Ramada Inn (which had recently been converted to student housing for Roger Williams University) with only one individual from the community. Then God blessed the faithfulness and perseverance, and several were saved and baptized that year as the church began to grow. As HBC grew, God provided a more centralized location to meet at 14 Potomac Road, where we meet today.

Heritage Baptist Church is an independent fundamental Baptist church focused on reaching the lost and living for Christ. HBC is a place where you will feel at home the moment you walk through the doors. It is a community where faith, family, and friendships grow together as we honor the legacy of religious freedom established by men like John Clarke and Roger Williams. Our mission is to lovingly share the Good News of Christ with Aquidneck Island and beyond, while building on the spiritual foundation laid by those who first sought religious liberty in our state and nation. We aim to provide a welcoming place for people to get to know God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and grow in their faith.