A VERY Brief History of the First Congregational Church of Verona

The First Congregational Church of Verona was organized on November 10, 1896 with the Rev. Mr. William J. Peske as the founding pastor and an original congregation of 45. The property, which now exists as 19 Church St. in Verona, originally encompassed the entire block that was known as Claremont Place.

The building program progressed rapidly and a year later, the original chapel – which cost $3,500 to construct – was dedicated. From that day to this, the congregation has been delighted by the interplay of light that filters through the stained glass windows. In 1914, an addition to the sanctuary was constructed, the spire removed and a new central entrance topped by the present crenellated tower was created.  Hardly had the building been completed when torrential rains destroyed the eastern wall.  Acting promptly, the current minister and Mayor of Verona, the Rev. Pratt and members of the congregation restored the wall and shored up the building.  The only visible evidence today is a slight fault in the alignment in the pillars along the eastern side of the church.

On May 4, 1933, fire destroyed parts of the church, but the sanctuary and the organ were saved. The reconstruction was completed in a single year and it included the addition of a new room for the church school and the floor to ceiling wood folding doors that now separate the Founders’ Room from the sanctuary.

In the 1960s, the education wing was built and a renovation project included the construction of a new church office, and a new pastor’s study. The building had achieved the scope and design that we have today.

In 1961, the congregation voted to participate in the United Church of Christ and a few years later, in 1965, women became members of the Church Council for the first time.

 In 1920, the Troop 3 Boy Scouts of America charter was issued with church sponsorship.  That same troop is with us today – its membership grown from that first group of Scouts to include Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and a Venture Crew.  During both world wars, the building was used for meetings for Home guard, Air Raid wardens, First Aid instruction, Red Cross work and civic gatherings.  In the 1940s, the Verona Antiques Show was first sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship and quickly grew to become a tradition in town.