Calvary IB Purchases Old Episcopal Church

With chainsaws, pick axes and about a dozen people, Calvary IB began to clear overgrown brush and make changes at their new home, what used to be Santa Maria Virgin Episcopal Church.

Santa Maria  after more than 50 years in IB.

Calvary IB held its first worship services in October 2011, until now at the Boys & Girls Club of South County-Imperial Beach. 

The current worship center only occupies about one-eigth of the one-acre lot.

"There's a lot more land that we need to develop, and we will, Lord willing, over the next couple of years," said . "For now we're just going to be fixing some stuff."

The first event at the new home for Calvary IB will be women's bible study next month and men's group meetings, but church services will continue at the Boys & Girls Club for another few months.

Currently the church has about 150 members, Sandino said, and so at first, multiple sermons will be held Sunday mornings to accomodate its members.

Church members will still be encouraged to go to their main church Calvary Chapel San Diego in Chula Vista Sunday evenings.

Sandino said homeowners near the church were excited to see a church come back to the corner of 5th Street and Imperial Beach Boulevard.

"Some communities don't like it cause it brings traffic and kids, but I've got to give props to the residents because everybody who stopped by to see what was happening was excited about it."

Among other changes that may occur at the location, a facility that has remained at the site despite the closure of the church will be asked to move when their contract ends next year.

If a gate is made in the fence that borders the Sports Park and Recreation Center, parking in the vacant lot that is part of the church can be used by park attendees, Sandino said.