United Methodist Church Designated a Verona Landmark

At the recent Verona Township Council Meeting, the Verona Landmarks Preservation Commission made a special presentation to recommend that the Verona United Methodist Church be designated a Verona landmark via the pending resolution. After discussion, the Council unanimously approved and adopted the ordinance.

In her request to the Council, Preservation Commission Chairman Jane Eliasof remarked, “We [the Commission] do due diligence to make sure the Church is worthy of landmark designation. If it is, we then bring it to you folks, and you have the designating power, not us, to actually designate it as a landmark.”

“Because it was the first religious organization founded in our town, Eliasof concluded, “it speaks to our social heritage as well as architectural heritage. We firmly believe and request you designate it a landmark.”

The Verona United Methodist Church, located at 26 Montrose Avenue, was built in 1909.  It was designed by W. R. Brown, an architect from Chicago, who designed other similar churches using what is known as the Akron plan. It is topped with a two-tiered cupola featuring stained glass windows.

The exterior of the church retains most of its original features based on photographs from the early 20th century and the original blueprints of the building. In Akron plan churches, pews are arranged in a semi-circle facing the altar.  Sliding walls are located behind the last row of pews, which allows the church to create a separate space for classrooms and other purposes, while enabling the church to accommodate more people if needed. In the Verona United Methodist Church, the original pulley system for these sliding walls is still intact.

The church is adorned with stained glass windows from the early 20th century. Although these windows have been tentatively attributed to Tiffany, it has not been officially documented.

The Methodist Church was the first religious organization founded in Verona in 1833. Their first church was built that year, on the northeast corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Grove Avenue. The Methodists worshiped in that building until they constructed the new church on Montrose Avenue in 1909.

Before the vote, Verona Mayor Frank Sapienza commented, “I will be honored, as one of the members of this council, to move this resolution forward.”

Now with Verona landmark designation, the United Methodist Church will be able to pursue state landmark status. As a state landmark, historic preservation funds will become available to maintain and preserve this landmark structure.