The Reverend Benjamin Crist started visiting the Lenora area as a missionary on a circuit between Chatfield and Brownsville in 1854.

He donated 40 acres (16 ha) of land and began construction of a stone building, financed by the sale of lots in the town of Lenora.

In 1865 the area was seeing financial prosperity again, and a stonemason used material from the large uncompleted church to finish building it as a smaller structure.

It is now known as the Lenora United Methodist Pioneer Center, and is open for occasional church services, special events, and concerts.

Heat is provided by a wood stove, and a reed pump organ and the original wooden pews are still in place.