St. Francis' Episcopal Church, Chesterton (originally Church of the Incarnation)
Conflict arose between the bishop and some members of the mission, mostly stemming from the differences between the corporate charter of the mission and canon law over worship style. Acting on recommendations from the diocesan Department of Missions, Klein dissolved the Church of the Nativity in December 1965. At the same time he announced the formation of a new congregation, the Church of the Incarnation. The new name had a Roman Catholic sound and undoubtedly resulted from Bishop Klein's dislike of Low Church evangelicals. Father Sunderland still had charge of the mission, which held services in the Edmonds Funeral Home in Chesterton. A Sunday school was formed, and members of the church came forward to serve as organists and lay readers.
The Bishop's Committee began a search for property and eventually settled on a 12-acre parcel on East Porter Street, making the purchase with $25,000 from the Diocesan Foundation. Architect Earl Jewell drafted plans for a building at 2101 East Porter, and after he made several modifications to the plan and the rectory was constructed, the cornerstone of the church was laid by Bishop Klein in August 1967. The building was completed at a cost of $75,000. The name of the church was later changed to St. Francis' Episcopal Church in 1985 under its then-rector, the Rev. John E. Meyer.
Clergy:
Charles Albert Sunderland, 1965-1973
Thomas Bailey Aldrich, 1974-1977
John Edward Meyer, 1977-2009
Allyne Levoit Smith, 1983-1985
Andrew Hanyzewski, 2010-2012
S. Thomas Kincaid, 2012-2015
David E. Pearson, 2015-2023
Erik Grayvold, 2023-
This page references:
- St. Francis, Chesterton, Jen Pearson, Rev. David Pearson, and Bishop Little, 28 Oct 2015
- Rev. Charles A. Sunderland of Chesterton
- St. Francis, Chesterton, Bishop LIttle and confirmands, 8 January 2012
- St. Francis, Chesterton, exterior, 1980s
- St. Francis, Chesterton, Rev. Thomas Kincaid, wife Elizabeth Rain, Bishop Little, 18 Oct. 2012
- St. Francis, Chesterton, interior, 1980s
- Rev. Allyne Smith and wife Cynthia, St. Francis Episcopal Church, Chesterton
- St. Francis, Chesterton, Bishop Little, Rev. Thomas Kincaid, and unidentified, 9 March 2014
- Bishop Walter Klein at dedication of the Church of the Incarnation, Chesterton, 1967
- St. Francis Episcopal Church, Chesterton (originally Incarnation Episcopal Church), 1960s
- St. Francis, Chesterton, Bishop Little and Rev. Thomas Kincaid, 26 April 2015
- Bishop Walter Klein at dedication of the Church of the Incarnation, Chesterton, 1967
- St. Francis Episcopal Church, Chesterton, exterior, ca 2015
- St. Francis, Chesterton, exterior, 26 April 2015
- Church of the Incarnation, Chesterton, 1968 (later St. Francis)
- St. Francis Episcopal Church, Chesterton (originally Incarnation Episcopal Church), 1960s, chancel
- Rev. John E. Meyer, St. Francis Chesterton
- St. Francis, Chesterton, statue of St. Francis, 26 Apr 2015
- St Francis Chesterton, visitation by Bishop Sparks, 25 February 2019
- St. Francis, Chesterton, interior, 26 April 2015
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