DUANE
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Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Way out in Gonzales County, in a little community called Sandies, folks didn't wait for a fine building before they started worshipping together. Back in 1842, settlers in that community began holding Methodist services, and that was that.
No frills, just faith and neighbors. Then in 1857, things got a little more official. Sandies Chapel was chartered by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and five men signed on as trustees: Newburn Guinn, David Barnes, E.
R. Hurt, D. P.
Briggs, and J. T. Gillett.
Five names on a charter, a congregation with roots already going back fifteen years. Now, a congregation that old, you might think it'd stay put. But here's where the story takes a turn.
Come 1897, the whole congregation picked up and moved. One mile down the road, to a brand new community called Dewville. And when they got there, they needed land for a church.
Mrs. C. C.
Vernor, wife of an early local pastor, donated that land herself. A church was built on it, and that congregation found a new home. Over the years, that church has provided significant service and leadership to the town, and it remains an active institution to this day.
At the base of the marker, cut into the stone, is a quiet dedication: in memory of Rev. J. E. and Mrs.
C. C. Vernor and their descendants.
A family woven right into the foundation, literally and otherwise.
What the marker says
Settlers in the community of Sandies began to hold Methodist worship services in 1842. Sandies Chapel was chartered by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1857. Trustees were Newburn Guinn, David Barnes, E. R. Hurt, D. P. Briggs, and J. T. Gillett. In 1897, the congregation moved one mile to the new community of Dewville where a church was built on land donated by Mrs. C. C. Vernor, the wife of an early local pastor. Over the years, the church has provided significant service and leadership to the town and remains an active institution here. Texas sesquicentennial 1836-1986 Incise on base: In memory of Rev. J. E. and Mrs. C. C. Vernor and their descendants