Verona Methodist Church
Blue Ridge, Collin County, Texas
Marker Inscription
A group of families met in 1887 to establish the Verona Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The first pastor was L.L. Naugh. W.E. and Elizabeth St. Clair donated land in 1888 and a church building was erected. In 1911 a tornado destroyed the structure, and the congregation built a new sanctuary which continued as a community gathering place. Dedicated members rescued the church from closing in 1959, replaced the sanctuary and have continued to improve the facility. Loyal members support the church which continues to serve the area as it has for 110 years. (1997)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
A group of families gathered in 1887 to found the Verona Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the next year built a sanctuary on land donated by the St. Clair family. A tornado destroyed that first structure in 1911, but the congregation rebuilt and carried on as a community gathering place. When closure loomed in 1959, dedicated members rescued the church and replaced its sanctuary, keeping it in service for well over a century.
Why it matters
Small congregations like Verona show the quiet persistence of rural community life, sustained by neighbors who rebuilt after disaster and refused to let their church close.
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Related people
- · L. L. Naugh
- · W. E. St. Clair
Themes & tags
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