1928 Costa Mesa church hopes renovations will bring a new way to serve the community

First United Methodist Church in downtown Costa Mesa is planning a series of renovation projects that church leaders hope will take out the old to make room for the new.

First United’s Spanish Colonial Revival sanctuary, which opened in 1928, isn’t going anywhere, the Rev. Amy Aitken said Wednesday. But the church at 420 W. 19th St. — whose congregation has dwindled over the years from hundreds to about 30 today — is looking to demolish two add-on buildings around the sanctuary.

That space, Aitken said, will be used to provide parking for 70 to 75 cars to accommodate new church members. The current lot accommodates fewer than 20 cars, and “that is just not enough to support a congregation,” Aitken said.

The two add-ons could be demolished within a month, subject to Costa Mesa City Hall approval. Officials are requiring a historic review of the buildings.

Aitken said the additions aren’t notable like the sanctuary is and that the church doesn’t expect any setbacks.

The estimated $3-million project also will include renovation of the sanctuary, which boasts a five-story tower whose bells can be heard from miles away.

First United is contracting with Pasadena-based Gonzalez Goodale Architects for the work. Church services will not be interrupted.

Funding sources are being worked out, as are many other details, like new uses the sanctuary could serve, Aitken said.

“We need to figure out what we need to serve this community, what would be the best use of this location,” she said. “It’s such a prime location.”

The add-on buildings, which date to the 1940s, include a multipurpose room called Thompson Hall — named after a 1950s-era pastor named Joseph Thompson — where churchgoers played basketball and held meetings and wedding receptions. Offices, a choir room and a former apartment, last rented out by a mental health group, also will be demolished.

Church leaders say they’ve never had much parking at the site. Even in First United’s heyday decades ago, when hundreds convened at the church, parking was plentiful in the downtown area.

That’s not the case anymore.

First United relied on handshake deals for its worshippers to use parking spots at The Triangle complex across the street and at 1901 Newport Plaza next door. For a time, those centers weren’t busy and had spots to spare, but now that they’re bustling, the extra parking isn’t available.

The idea of losing Thompson Hall has been emotional for churchgoers, Aitken said.

“They’ve had wedding receptions, funeral receptions there,” she said. “They grew up, had dances and meals in there. They have a hundred memories.”