Disclosed herein is an ignition system for igniting a flame in a combustion chamber comprising a conduit secured to a windbox wall of the combustion chamber; where the conduit includes a fuel conduit for delivering fuel to the combustion chamber; and a single ignitor and flame rod assembly having a first end and a second end; where the first end comprises a high energy ignitor tip; where the second end is in electrical communication with an electrical power source; where the electrical power source comprises a spark transformer that comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding; a flame monitoring ignitor; where the flame monitoring ignitor is in direct electrical communication with a ground contact and with a low voltage side of the secondary winding; where the flame monitoring ignitor is disposed between the low voltage side of the secondary winding and a ground contact; and a transient voltage suppressor; that is disposed in parallel with the flame monitoring ignitor.