Chesterfield Lyons Parish History

By Author: Chesterfield Lyons
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It was under Rev. Black's leadership that the Winameg-East Chesterfield churches met with Dr. Harold Monroe regarding the formation of a parish. The committees from both churches met to make plans for the formation. The first parish service was started on March 20, 1966, with Rev. Black serving both churches.

Later that same year, a choir was organized which added so much to the service. The first parish cantata was presented at the Winameg Church on Sunday evening, December 18, 1966. Mrs. Wilda Collier from the East Chesterfield Church directed the combined choirs and Mrs. Christine Tappan was the accompanist.
The Christian Women's Fellowship was organized about 1967.

Up until 1969, the East Chesterfield congregation was paying rent to Winameg for their share of the use of the parsonage. On April 29, 1969 the parish council recommended to both church boards that a more modern united parsonage be purchased. The Gleason property located one half mile west of Winameg could be bought. It was voted on by ballot and carried by 75%.

On October 15, the two churches of the parish had incorporated ...
... so they could buy the Gleason property. Possession of the property occurred on December 15, 1969. After many years of use, the two churches decided to sell the parish. The parish was sold in summer 2010.

Throughout the years, the Winameg-East Chesterfield Parish has been served by faithful leaders. In December of 2008, Pastor Floyd Vincent answered the call to serve the two congregations. We praise God that he has sent Pastor Floyd and his wife, Connie to our parish.

Our churches form a unique relationship, two individual congregations and histories, yet one parish with one goal... to spread the news of our Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Redeemer.
For almost 45 years, the parish has been touching the lives of people here in Fulton County and many other places near and far. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, following the leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ, the parish continues today to be involved in the ministry of being the church in today's world and society. Prayerfully, we go forward into the future knowing that God is not finished with us yet and that there is still much yet to do.

About the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

The Symbol
The red chalice bearing the "X" shaped cross of St. Andrew, which has come to be the symbol of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), was developed in 1969. The chalice symbolizes the centrality of the Lord's Supper as well as the cup of Christian self-giving for the world.
The St. Andrew's Cross, national cross of Scotland, focuses attention on the Scottish Presbyterian roots of the church. Thomas and Alexander Campbell both studied in Scotland and were Presbyterians, drawing many of their ideas from developments taking place in that country. St. Andew, too, has been identified with the laity and evangelism, prominent emphases of the Disciples over the years.

The Name
Since 1968 when the Provisional Design was accepted by the General Assembly, the name of the denomination has been Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.) The compound name recognizes the historical coming together of two movements in 1832.
The "Christian Church" part of the name stems from the church's Kentucky ancestry and Barton W. Stone, whose followers dissolved their Presbyterian relationship in favor of a church less complicated, less dedicated to the use of creeds as tests of belief and more open to the reunion of Christians. Thomas and Alexander Campbell, whose movement to restore Christian unity developed similarly but separately in western Pennsylvania, rebelled against dogmatic sectarianism. Campbell chose "Disciples of Christ" because he felt it was less pretentious than "Christian Church."