Our History

Chesterland Community Church is first founded as The Presbyterian Church, Chesterland, a “frontier church” on the western reserve of the United States.

The Church changes its affiliation and name to The Congregational Church, Chesterland.

The church merges with the Disciples of Christ (DOC) Church in Chesterland to form the Federated Church of Chesterland and continues joint affiliation with both denominations.

Rev. Evelyn Walsh, a DOC minister and Hiram College graduate, becomes the first female minister of the Church, and the Community Church of Chesterland is officially incorporated and begins holding services at a church building at the corner of Rt. 306 and Rt. 322

Rev. Harriet-Louise Patterson is called to be minister. Taking on a church on the brink of closure with only a few members, Rev. Patterson brings an era of tremendous church growth that coincided with explosive growth in the town

Al Freshley is elected Moderator, an office he will hold through church growth and conflict for 25 years, and Rev. Jud Townley becomes minister and brings an era of social justice consciousness to CCC

Rev. Townley’s social justice focus, especially in regards to issues of racial equality in the Cleveland area, divides the church with some thinking him too radical. The congregation takes a vote of confidence on whether to retain him, and chooses to do so. Approximately one third (30 of 100 of the church families) of the congregation leaves the congregation. In 1957, the church becomes affiliated with the United Church of Christ denomination and drops its D.O.C. affiliation.

CCC begins worshiping in the current church building, some of which is built by current members. The large brass Church bell from the original Church is hung on a free-standing bell tower in the front of the Church. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, the church is at the forefront of the fight for social justice. Church members march in the Civil Rights March on Washington, hold its first Earth Day Service, march with Cesar Chavez in support of the Farm Workers Movement, and develop a hot-line in the Church library to support young people on “bad trips” or suffering from depression, among many other activities

Beth O’Malley, a young minister recently graduated from Yale Divinity School, becomes minister. Rev O’Malley leads the congregation through a discernment process about whether to become an Open and Affirming church.

The church votes overwhelmingly to become an Open and Affirming Church, "fully welcoming all people regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, faith, nationality, ethnicity, martial status, physical ability, economic situation or whatever other barriers there might be".

The Freshley Pavilion is dedicated in loving memory of Alice and Al Freshley, and the congregation starts worshipping here in nature when they weather allows.

To manage the growing complexity and increased activities of the church, CCC updates its governance structure. Ministry Teams are created, and rules are set in place for voting and non-voting members of the Council. In 2015, Rev. Jason Bicker-Thompson is called as a half-time minister.

We discern our core values as a church to be “Welcome, Inclusion, Justice, and Peace”. Rev. Jason becomes full time minister. In 2018, we begin our Revitalisation efforts. Vitality workshops help us discern how to grow and thrive as a progressive church in the modern world. This is also the year we celebrate 25 years as an open and affirming church.

We celebrate our 200th anniversary! In order to adapt to the changing needs in the community, we begin our Community Meal Ministry.

Our interim minister, Rev. Carol Vaccariello, joins us. With the COVID pandemic upending everything, we begin online services via Zoom to remain connected. Revitalization efforts continue as we are on a constant journey to adapt to the changing landscape while remaining true to our core values.