"Incarnation is a growing parish and we need a new place for our ministries," said Becky Doody, president of the Incarnation Pastoral Council. "We have more than 3,000 families, and we're growing. Once a month, [Hruby] introduces new parishioners."
Escrow closed on the property July 13, but the handing over of the keys was a big moment for both congregations.
"It was just such a blessing that First United decided to keep it in the faith community, because they had an opportunity to sell it to a developer," Doody said. "It is a holy place. They wanted to keep it as a place of God."
Doody received the keys from Bob Duncan, a long-time member of North Glendale United Methodist Church, said Pat Tomlin, another former North Glendale United Methodist Church member.
"Our biggest worry was that a developer was going to come in," Tomlin said.
"The fact that the church was going to continue as a church made it a lot easier on everybody."
Incarnation used funds from a five-year capital campaign for the down payment and got a $3-million loan from the archdiocese to pay for the buildings, which need some repairs before the church sanctuary can be used, Hruby said.
"It's pretty significant," Hruby said. "We need to get the church fixed before we can occupy it. The transition committee is having meetings about property management, new cost of maintenance and which groups will get which classroom space."
North Glendale United Methodist Church was established in 1910 and served the community continuously until July 2005 when its members merged with First United Methodist Church of Glendale.
"They welcomed all of us and made us all feel like we've there for years," Tomlin said. "The transition went really smooth. I don't think they could have done any more for us."
