History of Irving Park United Methodist Church
Irving Park United Methodist Church had its beginnings in the 1950’s. Leaders in the Western North Carolina Conference decided that a new church was needed in northwest Greensboro and settled on the edge of Irving Park as the best location. Interested prospective members began meeting in each other’s homes to discuss the possibilities. The Conference then purchased three acres of land at the corner of West Cone Boulevard and Lafayette Avenue for $55,000, and the church was on the way to becoming a reality.
In 1962 the fledgling church, now called West Irving Park Methodist Church, began to hold worship services at Joyner Elementary School, presided over by a student minister from Duke Divinity School. There were seventy-six charter members. Ground was broken for a new church building, and in September, 1964, the first service was held in the dual purpose fellowship hall/sanctuary.
Soon there was a thriving congregation with men’s and women’s groups, a Boy Scout troop, an Alcoholics Anonymous program that used church facilities, and a pre-school. Over the years there have been numerous mission-oriented projects, including the sponsorship of both a Cambodian and a Bhutanese refugee family, and a Habitat for Humanity building crew. In the 1990’s the church invited a Montagnard church to use our facilities for worship until they could find a building of their own.
In 1968 there was a church-wide merger of the Methodist church with the Evangelical United Brethren and the new denomination became the United Methodist Church. It was decided that West Irving Park United Methodist was a bit long for a name, so the “West” part of the name was dropped.
Bethel United Methodist Church on Battleground Avenue decided to close its doors in 1969. It merged with Pisgah United Methodist, but one long-time Bethel member, Mrs. Lucy Hoyle, decided that she wanted to join where she was most needed. She and a sizeable contingent of Bethel members, along with the electric organ that Mrs. Holye had given in memory of her late husband, came to Irving Park during the summer of 1970.
A significant milestone for the church came in 1998 with the establishment of a Capital Funds Campaign. Its goal was to raise money to retire the mortgage, replace the aging heating and air conditioning systems in the Fellowship Hall, make some other major repairs to the buildings, and establish endowment funds for future use. The campaign was a success, raising over $400,000 after expenses. Endowment funds were set up for missions and outreach, congregational care, and building maintenance. Those funds continue to bear fruit to this day.
Several young men who grew up in the church have gone on to become United Methodist ministers. A former pastor was elected as a United Methodist bishop.
Irving Park United Methodist Church has a history of being a warm and welcoming congregation. The church looks forward to continuing to grow in love of God, love of neighbor, and love of ourselves.