Our History

Our History (1819 - Present)

1819

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

1884

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

1920

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.

1930-1931

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  

1944

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

1952-1953

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

1955-1957

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.

1960s-1970s

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 

1986

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.

1993

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".

1995

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.

2012-2015

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.

2017-2018

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 Revitalization 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.

2019

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

2020

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. 

2021

Church members Mary Briggs and Meg Carver began organizing the first-ever Geauga Pride, laying the groundwork for LGBTQ+ visibility and joy in our local community.

2022

We proudly called Rev. Jess Peacock—our first settled transgender minister—as pastor. That same year, Geauga Pride held its inaugural event, celebrating love, identity, and community in public witness.

2023

We hosted our first Drag Story Hour and Drag Brunches, affirming the sacredness of queer expression and joyful resistance.
In response to our bold welcome, our church became the target of a hate-motivated attack. We grieved, stood firm, and redoubled our commitment to radical hospitality.

2024

A year of creative transition and shared leadership. After Rev. Jess Peacock stepped down from ministry to focus on personal healing, our congregation entered a season of lay-led innovation. Instead of pausing, we leaned in. Longtime leader and Pride co-founder Meg Carver was named Moderator of the Church, and church members stepped up in bold and beautiful ways—preaching, planning, organizing, and caring for one another with deep faith and fierce love. This time affirmed our strength not just in one leader, but in the collective spirit of our community.

2025

A new chapter began as we welcomed Wendy Bartlett as our Designated Leader. While not our settled pastor, Wendy brings wisdom, heart, and vision to help guide us through this next phase. Together, we are discerning, dreaming, and co-creating the future of Community Church of Chesterland with clarity, courage, and care.