Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

None

Use Restrictions

Consult repository for information

Preferred Citation

Chesterbrook United Methodist Church Collection, MSS 05-23, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Mr. Brian D. Symmes on April 3, 1991

Processing Information

Lane Jones and Chris Barbuschak, June 2016
EAD generated by Ross Landis, 2024

Historical and Biographical Information

In 1906, fourty-four members of the Dulin Methodist Church in Falls Church and Trinity Methodist Church in McLean organized the Chesterbrook Methodist Church. The group held a Sunday School in the recently completed one-room Chesterbrook School. With the intention of having a church built in their own community, they erected the present church building in 1920 at 1711 Kirby Road and services began on November 6, 1921. The church was the center of the community’s religious and social life with many community activities occurring in the church’s basement. In 1940, the Woman’s Society of Christian Service formed to raise funds for church projects and building improvements by holding church suppers and pledge drives. After a post-World War II population boom increased church members, the congregation erected a separate education building in the rear in 1959. The church continues to be active 110 years after its founding.

Scope and Content

The Chesterbrook United Methodist Church collection consists of .5 linear feet spanning the years 1946 - 1961. The collection is comprised of a porcelain commemorative plate and meeting minutes from the church's Women's Society for the Christian Service and the Board of Christian Education. The minutes include the date, location, treasurer's report, names of members in attendance and brief descriptions of various projects. Subjects include the Chesterbrook Church's Sunday School management and events; church fundraisers; and church building maintenance. The Homer Laughlin Eggshell Theme plate features a drawing of the Chesterbrook church along with an inscription of the church's history.

Related Material

The minutes in this collection have been photocopied and bound. They can be found in the public stacks of the Virginia Room:

“Minutes of the Board of Christian Education: Chesterbrook Methodist Church, McLean, Va., Feb 2, 1948 - July 2, 1951” VREF 287.6 M

“Minutes of the Women’s Society for Christian Service: Chesterbrook Methodist Church, McLean, Va., Jan 3, 1946 - Apr 11, 1955” VREF 287.6 M

Separated Material

None

Index Terms

• Chesterbrook United Methodist Church (McLean, Va.)
• Chesterbrook, Va.
• McLean, Va. - History
• Methodist Church - Virginia - Fairfax County

Adjunct Descriptive Data