As downtown revives, so do congregations
A growing, diverse population in the L.A. neighborhood results in new parishes and bigger old ones.
By K. Connie Kang, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 15, 2008

The congregation at New City Church of Los Angeles -- downtown's newest house of worship -- is a microcosm of the burgeoning downtown itself.

The parishioners, who gathered for a recent service improvised in an Italian restaurant near Walt Disney Concert Hall, included some local loft dwellers.

About two dozen adults -- some with squirming toddlers in tow -- spent half an hour visiting with one another over yogurt and fresh fruit before the Sunday morning worship. They were white and black, Asian and Latino, well-to-do and down and out. the rest image