OUR HISTORY

 

      The history along a line at Chandlers Temple from 1859 to 1988. Much of the information was given by friends and associates of Sister Earlie Bell, who has been the church’s secretary for many years. Every church like every individual has a personality that is typical and characteristic of its style.

      Chandlers’ membership is 127 with a long family heritage of traditional mainline values that were handed down through several generations. There will be many things that you as readers must interpret from your experiences and backgrounds. If all is not the exact way you have heard or known, let us bear in mind that it is better than no records at all when you need to rely on past information.

      In 1859 is where our data began from the original name Verona Methodist Church. It was part of the Methodist Episcopal South which had split from the north over the slave issue in 1844.

      The pioneers of Verona Methodist decided with God’s help to purchase some property. Brother John R. Ratliff donated land for both the Methodist and Baptist church in addition to the cemetery for Blacks and Whites burial. In 1875 Verona Methodist was moved to our present location under Bishop Miles in the Houston district. It was a white frame structure that enhoused the church and community school. The deeds were given to Black trustees, Bro. Richard C. Clark, Bro. Alfred Jones, and Bro. Joe Christian. They were recorded in Fulton, Mississippi book #16 in 1875. The church was destroyed in a storm with no exact date recorded except for the late 1890’s. It was rebuilt and renamed in honor of the pastorage of Rev. C.H. Chandlers at our present site on Holloway Avenue in Verona, Lee County, Mississippi. The presiding elder was Rev. J. B. Stepherson under the Bishop Elias Cottrell in 1906.

In 1987 under the leadership of Rev. William Petty Chandlers became a full service church.