The year was 1962, and Mr. Roland Smith a Canadian missionary had a dream. He had a dream
that one day he would plant a church somewhere in the Montego Bay area. This dream grew into a burden that burned within him. He discussed the burden with Mr. Raphael Moxam, a police officer who lived in the Albion area.

One day Mr. Moxam was passing the Albion All Age School and he heard the children using swear words that made him see colours. He said to his wife, “This place really needs a Sunday School,” and without hesitation he consulted the then Principal, Mr. David Samuels about the use of the school for church services. The permission was granted and in 1963, on the first Sunday in April, the dream became a reality.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith, with the help of Mr. & Mrs. Moxam worked ceaselessly to keep this work going. They went into the highways & byways and gathered people of all ages, and the attendance grew. When the Smiths went on furlough, the work was carried on by Rev. and Mrs. McKillop. The people were faithful and God honored their faithfulness.

The Reality Grew Bigger

Soon, the school room could no longer accommodate these faithful people, so the next step was to seek for land to build a sanctuary. In 1963, a three quarter acre lot was purchased and a few years later the building was started.

And Every Man Became An Artisan

The church people joined hands with the skilled labourers and toiled by day and by night. The building went up quickly and soon we had a new building which we now call the Roland Smith Educational Centre.

AND WE DEDICATE THIS BUILDING UNTO THE LORD

On March 30th, 1969, the dedication service was held. There was a jubilant yet subdued atmosphere, as the congregation allowed the faithfulness of their God to sink in.

The church continued under missionary leadership with Rev. Roland Smith at the helm and Mr. Eral Lewis as his assistant. Soon Rev. Smith had to leave and after a few years of missionaries filling the gap, then Rev. Eral Lewis answered the call to become the first national Pastor of Hillview Baptist Church.

Growth and Development

Reverend Lewis served faithfully for twenty eight years and at his departure, Rev. James Richards took over. After twelve years, God called Rev. Richards to serve in the United States and Reverend Duane Madden came to Hillview Baptist Church in 2008 to serve as Pastor of the Church. Rev. Madden is still leading the flock in sound, energetic and dynamic preaching, as his predecessors did.

Hillview has always supported Missions. Its first missionary, George Beckford was sent to Bolivia. He died on the mission field but his wife Fidelia Beckford is there continuing the work.

It is interesting to note that four (4) ministers have been ordained from the membership over the years and the church has actually nurtured three mission works namely Faith Baptist in Flankers, Canaan Baptist (formally Bethel Baptist) in Dumfries and lately Baylife Baptist in Bogue, all in the parish of St. James. Hillview’s growth was phenomenal. It soon became obvious that we had outgrown our original building so it was back to work site. In 1984, we laid the cornerstone for the top floor which is now the main sanctuary.

In 1991, an area that was once bare and lonely, on it now stands a beautiful edifice set upon the hill, set to be a light. Our building journey was complete. Today, this church on the hill boasts a membership of approximately three hundred people (locally and internationally). God continues to be faithful and the congregants seek to grow in God’s grace.