Celebrating 80 Years in Historic Sanctuary

The First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa is celebrating our Ruby Jubilee, 80th anniversary of our beautiful and historic sanctuary on July 27, 2008.

The church itself was chartered in 1912, yet the sanctuary was dedicated on July 28, 1928. In 1924, the present site at 420 W. 19th St. was purchased at a cost of $2500. The sanctuary was dedicated on July 28, 1928 by Bishop Charles Wesley Burns. The Rev. Lyman Bayard was the minister at the time of the building and dedication and was instrumental in the design and planning.

His design and vision not only dictated the architectural style for the rest of the church’s buildings, but also provided the architectural motif for the redevelopment of downtown Costa Mesa. The cost of the building was $28,000.

Contractors Norris and Willard Mellot directed skilled workmen, who were paid fifty cents an hour, to build the Spanish Colonial Revival style church. Highlights of the sanctuary include stained glass windows, a bell tower and a Moller pipe organ. The original bell was taken down from the tower and latter replaced with electronic chimes.

The original bell is a part of the sign that is in front of the church. The church was a hub of activity when it was built including being the movie house and theater of the time. During the Great Depression it served those in need by providing food and clothing. During World War II, the serviceman used the sanctuary for worship time when they were stationed at the nearby Santa Ana Army base. It has also housed a soup kitchen and a shower program. It has helped immigrants with an immigration assistance center, it is the home of many twelve step groups and the Laubach Literacy group.

It houses a clinic for the County of Mental Health. It has had youth and young adult outreach programs and has been a serving station for the SHIP program to help the homeless get back on their feet. The church family is proud of the building and the outreach and service we have done and continue to do. All this and supporting a community of faith that spans all the ages and cultures that enrich the city of Costa Mesa.

The church is 95 years old and our beautiful sanctuary is celebrating her 80th birthday. We plan to celebrate and rededicate the church and the sanctuary on July 27. We will have a special worship service at 10:00 am followed by a lunch. The lunch is catered by our good neighbors, Turnip Rose and there will be a program with longtime members contributing fun stories and interesting facts.

Then we will have a rededication service at 2:00 pm with Rev. Julie Elkins and Bishop Charles Jordan presiding. The church is also opening the doors of the sanctuary for tours on July 19th at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. And on the 20th at 9:00 am and at 4:00 pm. Then we will be having a classic movie matinee at 5:00 p.m. on the 20th where we will be showing Yankee Doodle Dandy. We here at the First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa are committed to looking back and sharing our history and heritage of this city and to move forward and continue to reach the citizens of Costa Mesa and beyond for many more years to come.