First Lutheran Church (Houston)

First Lutheran in Houston (also known as First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Houston) is a historic Lutheran church at 1311 Holman Street in Houston, Texas. It is part of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). The current church building was constructed in 1927 in a Lombard Romanesque style. The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

First Lutheran, Houston
First Lutheran Church (Houston) is located in Texas
First Lutheran Church (Houston)
First Lutheran Church (Houston) is located in the United States
First Lutheran Church (Houston)
Location1311 Holman St., Houston, Texas
Coordinates29°44′25″N 95°22′32″W
Area1.2 acres (0.49 ha)
Built1927
ArchitectNorthrop, Joseph W. Jr.; West, James
Architectural styleLombard Romanesque
NRHP reference No.06001066[1]
RTHL No.129128
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 21, 2006
Designated RTHL2002

History

On July 1, 1851, a group of Lutherans under Pastor Caspar Messon Braun (1822–1880) founded Erste Deutsche Evangelische Lutherische Kirche (First German Evangelical Lutheran Church), with the state of Texas issuing a charter in September of that year. The first church, a wood frame building, was built at the southeast corner of Texas Avenue and Milam Street.[2]

In 1901, the congregation, led by Pastor William L. Blasberg (1862–1935), built a new red brick and sandstone church at the northwest corner of Texas Avenue and Caroline Street. By the mid-1920s, the congregation had become known as First Evangelical Church, but since then has returned to the First Lutheran name.[2]

In 1926, the congregation, under Pastor Detlev Baltzer (1889–1962), hired architect Joseph W. Northrop Jr to design a new sanctuary and campus in the 1300 block of Homan Street. Northrop had moved to Houston to oversee construction of the original Rice Institute, now Rice University. The general contractor was James West, with J. C. Nolan and Star Electric and Engineering company being subcontracts.[2]

The church is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, with the marker for it being erected in 2002.[3]

The Houston Saengerbund began meeting at the church after it sold its existing property in 2004.[4]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "First Evangelical Church". Texas Historical Markers. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  3. "Texas Historical Sites Atlas - First Evangelical Church (Atlas Number 5201012912)". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  4. "History". Houston Saengerbund. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
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