Isn’t it intriguing how a place of worship can evolve? The story of North Glendale Methodist Church is one such tale of transformation.
North Glendale Methodist Church began with a small gathering. A few families met in a rented house in June 1910. They wanted to organize a Methodist church in north Glendale.
Fast forward to June 12, 2005. The congregation gathered to celebrate its 95th anniversary. However, this celebration was bittersweet. The congregation would disband at the end of the month. This was due to dwindling enrollment and changing demographics.
The church experienced highs and lows during its 95 years. Membership grew significantly in the 1940s and 50s. Then a slow decline began.
In 1911, the congregation purchased land on Fairview Avenue near Central Avenue. Within two years, they built a wood-frame church. Ruth Brager recalled that the little church met the needs of the day. It even had an outhouse since there was no indoor plumbing.
The congregation soon outgrew the small building. In 1921, they built a larger church at the corner of Central and Glenoaks Boulevard. It had an auditorium, classrooms, a small kitchen, and indoor toilets.
But membership started to fall again. In 1938, Evert Ezra Ellis was sent to close the church within six months. Instead, he increased the membership from 65 to 630 within five years.
In 1940, Allen Lannom became choir director. Sunday morning attendance boomed. Word spread about the church’s great music program. A new sanctuary was needed.
Shelby Simmons, a window dresser, led the project. He designed a unique, modern church that opened in 1942. It was called the Tower of Light. The design was cited by an architectural board in New York City.
North Glendale Methodist Church was very active during World War II. The Men’s Club organized a Saturday night canteen in the basement. They collected servicemen and brought them to the church. The Women’s Society served breakfast with Lucille Heacock’s doughnuts. More than 8,000 men stayed overnight during the war.
In 1986, the Glendale Employers Child Care Consortium opened. About 90 children enrolled.
Bud Lovik is the church’s historian. He has attended the church since he was an infant. He said the congregation merged with the First United Methodist Church. The Central Avenue property remained in control of the merged church.
The North Glendale United Methodist Church closed its doors June 26, after 95 years.
In July 2006, the Incarnation Catholic Church purchased the North Glendale United Methodist Church. The North Glendale Congregation merged with the nearby First United Methodist Church in Glendale. The Incarnation Catholic Church used the space for its ministerial groups.
In 2006, an Adventist Community Children’s Center was located on the property. The North Glendale United Methodist Church had termite and water damage that needed repair.
The story of North Glendale Methodist Church reminds us that institutions evolve. They adapt and sometimes even fade away. But their impact on the community remains.