Lenora Methodist Church

I didn’t know there was a small town in southeastern Minnesota named Lenora. The name reminded me of my mom’s sister Lenore. It was a fun, fleeting thought.

Of course, there are many small towns in southeastern Minnesota that I have not heard of, but I do know the beauty of the rolling hills dotted with quaint farms and fields, and magnificent vistas in the area. It makes for an amazing place to drive around and appreciate. We spent three days in the area this week; driving around in our car and also riding around on our bicycles. 

This is also part Amish country. We caught glimpses of the nostalgic scenes with horses pulling farm equipment in the fields, and buggy’s traveling along the road.

Our friends had told us about an old stone church in Lenora. Lenora is an unincorporated community in Fillmore County.  A post office was established at Lenora in 1856, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1905. But an old stone church remains. 

The Lenora Methodist Church was built in 1856, which was two years before Minnesota became a state in 1858.

When we drove to see the stone church we were expecting to admire the church from the outside and not expecting to go inside but alas, the door was unlocked. There was a sign in the entryway reminding people to “social distance” but feel welcome to look around. 

It was a beautiful stone structure, with a wooden ramp up to an add-on wooden entryway. The ramp was lined with huge hosta plants and there was a bell hanging on a pole on one side of the ramp and an old kerosene lantern hanging from a pole on the other side. 

Immediately inside the church was a wood-burning stove. There were wooden pews lined up facing front towards the altar and an organ.

Hanging on the wall behind the altar was a 44-star American flag. Here’s what I found out about that flag from GOOGLE… The 44-Star flag became the Official United States Flag on July 4th, 1891. A star was added for the admission of Wyoming (July 10, 1890) and was to last for 5 years. 

You could tell the flag was an original; it had been repaired several times. It was very interesting to see it hanging there.

A picture of the church’s first pastor, Rev. John L. Dryer was hanging on one wall. He was a circuit rider.

According to Wikipedia circuit rider clergy, “in the earliest years of the United States, were clergy assigned to travel around specific geographic territories to minister to settlers and organize congregations. Circuit riders were clergy in the Methodist Episcopal Church and related denominations, although similar itinerant preachers could be found in other faiths as well, particularly among minority faith groups.”

It’s curious to think about who all worshiped within these walls over the years…to think of the families that attended this church and the baptisms and funerals and many social gatherings and other events in the last almost 200 years. As the sign on the chalkboard said, “This historic building has known pandemics before! 1918 flu”

The lights were kerosene lanterns and I didn’t notice if there was any electricity …but apparently they still use the church for special services to this day. 

Lenora Methodist church is on the National Register of Historic places. It was fun to discover this church.