Parishfield

The Parishfield community, a semi-independent agency of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, was in existence from 1948 to 1967. Established to create a lay ministry to further the mission of the church in society, its stated purpose was to "explore, help define, and encourage the role of Christian laymen in all aspects of life." In sum, Parishfield hoped to revitalize the church by providing it with a new awareness of the critical issues facing society. Renewal was necessary, the community believed, because of the perception that faith was losing its importance in the lives of most Americans. The community sought to reconnect religion to life's daily activities to create a stronger, more aware, church. The members of the community believed that the development of a lay ministry would provide the church with such a reconnection.

From 1948 to 1967, the community management was comprised of three clergy (Rev. Francis O. Ayres, Rev. Roger Barney, and Rev. James Guinan), their families, and a deaconess (Olive Robinson). These individuals operated a lay training center in Brighton, Michigan (about 40 miles from Detroit). Parishfield considered itself a ministry of families with the assistance of advisory groups, such as the Partners for Renewal and the Advisory Committee. The group received financial support from the Episcopal Church and from solicited and unsolicited donations.

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