Parishfield.

The Parishfield community (1948-1967) was a semi-independent agency of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan that sought to create a lay ministry to further the mission of the church in society.

The community sought to "explore, help define, and encourage the role of Christian laymen in all aspects of life." Parishfield hoped to renew the church through an awareness of society's critical issues.

Community management included three clergy (Revs. Francis Ayres, Roger Barney, and James Guinan), their families, and a deaconess (Olive Robinson) who operated a lay training center in Brighton, Michigan. Parishfield was a ministry of families assisted by advisory groups (Partners for Renewal and the Advisory Committee).

Meetings were hosted in Brighton for many groups on topics including religion, industry, corrections, freedom, and poverty. Moving away from an isolated concern for social and political institutions and desiring active involvement, Parishfield-Detroit was opened in 1962 to bring the work closer to urban society. In 1966, the church was moved completely to Detroit and the Brighton site was closed. Parishfield disbanded in 1967.

From the description of Parishfield records, 1948-1971. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 82298298