As early as 1840, Scottish families who settled in the Town of Vernon gathered for worship in barns and local homes. Many of these settlers came to the area from New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina and were members of the Associate Reformed Church. In 1844 a Sabbath school was organized and on September 6, 1847 the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of the Town of Vernon was formed. A pastor for the new congregation was hired in 1851 and in 1859 the church building was completed.
In the years following, the church grew as new families settled in the surrounding area. The church building was first remodeled in the early 1900’s and a parsonage was built in 1955. Meeting rooms and classroom space were added in 1962 as the congregation began its mission of reaching out to the local community.
In 1978 Vernon Child Development Center was established with preschool classes open to all children in the community. The parsonage was converted to a child care center in 1980. The child care center moved to a new facility completed in 1988. In 1995, a final addition increased classroom space for both the church and child development center and made Vernon Presbyterian Church handicap accessible.
Today, Vernon Presbyterian Church continues its adventure in Christian service begun in 1840 by a small congregation of Scots settlers. Adult education and children’s programs are accessible for all members of the community. The child development center serves local families with preschool and child care emphasizing Christian values. We continue to live our mission of “sharing the love of God in both word and deed.”
