On July 1, 1851, a group led by the Rev. Caspar Messon Braun (1822-1880) founded the Erste Deutsche Evangelische Lutherische Kirche, or First German Evangelical Lutheran Church. The State of Texas issued the church's charter on September 21 of that year. First Lutheran was the first Lutheran congregation in Houston and the second Lutheran congregation in Texas. First Lutheran is responsible for the establishment of no less than 8 daughter congregations in Harris county. 

In November, 1851, just 2 months after its founding, six missionaries from St. Chrischona of Basel, Switzerland arrived in Texas. Along with the Rev. Braun, they established the First Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Texas, often called the Texas Synod. The purpose of the synod was to gather the many Lutherans in Texas that were without congregations and a churchly structure. The confession of the synod included subscription to the Lutheran Confessions, adopting unaltered symbolical books as found in the Book of Concord, 1580, accepting the Unaltered Small Catechism, and selecting the German Hymn book of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States. 

The first church building was erected on the southeast corner of Texas Avenue at Milam Street. In 1901, under the Rev. William L. Blasberg (1862-1935), the congregation moved to the northwest corner of Texas Avenue at Caroline Street, to a new red brick and sandstone edifice built in the Gothic tradition. After selling the second structure in 1926, the First Evangelical Church, as it became known, purchased the current site on Holman Street. Under the leadership of the Rev. Detlev Baltzer (1889-1962), the congregation hired architect Joseph W. Northrop, Jr., who had moved to Houston to oversee construction of the original Rice Institute, now Rice University. James West was general contractor for the new church campus, and J. C. Nolan and the Star Electric and Engineering Company held sub-contracts.

Northrop's North Italian Romanesque styling features terra cotta roof tiles on the nave, education building and parsonage, as well as a campanile, or bell tower. The buildings were constructed of interlocking concrete tiles covered with buff-face brick and white sandstone trim. The campanile's bell, forged in 1880, has rung at each of the congregation's places of worship. The tower connects the nave to the seven-bay arched portals of the education building, which houses classrooms, offices, auditoriums and a stage. The nave's details include pulpit and altar made by master woodcarvers from Oberammergau, Germany. Pews and chancel furnishings, designed by Northrop, are by the American Seating Company. The north gallery of the nave houses a 1903 Kilgen and Son pipe organ, and the stained glass windows of the gallery - a later addition to the building - are from the Browne Window Company. First Evangelical Lutheran Church was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 2002.

First Lutheran's history since 2002 is as interesting as its founding. Through the 20th century, First Lutheran had moved through several different denominations. In early 2002, a Houston lawyer and civic leader discovered that First Church, the first Lutheran congregation in Houston was technically no longer "Lutheran". Virtually no Lutherans in Houston except those who had attended First Lutheran, knew that the "First Church" was still in existence. At that time the formerly thriving congregation had dwindled in size and worship attendance was paltry. The church faced the real possibility of having to close its doors.

Based upon extensive research, congregational forums, consultation with ELCA synodical representatives, and conversations with the pastor and congregational council, First Evangelical Lutheran Church voted to join the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, thereby reclaiming its Lutheran identity. This move was encouraged and sponsored by sister congregation, Christ the King Lutheran Church, located near Rice University in the Village neighborhood of Houston. In 2006, the Rev. Edwin D. Peterman, a distinguished Lutheran pastor and well-known teaching theologian, began to serve as Interim Pastor. Through the Holy Spirit, the congregation began to grow to viability again, and called a full-time pastor in December 2009 to help the congregation continue the work of the church into the 21st century.

The addition of Pastor Evan McClanahan in December, 2009, signaled the congregation's intent to become a significant presence and voice for Lutheranism in the community. As the Midtown neighborhood in Houston experiences a renaissance, so too does First Lutheran. It is expanding its outreach into the community, adding Sunday Church School and activities for children, becoming known for its excellent worship and music, and adding avenues for young adults to come to faith. 

The History of our stained glass windows.

In 1968 the triad, of 3 Lombard Romanesque arched opalescent glass windows above and behind the choir loft facing the congregation were replaced with a picture window. Texas Art Glass of Houston was commissioned, by our stained glass window committee to execute an original creation of two panels 3 feet wide and 13 feet tall, flanking a singular panel 4 feet wide and 18 tall. The $4,600 needed to finance the project was contributed by Mrs. Robert I. (Gussie) Stansbury. Rev. Richard Campbell and his wife Betty conceived the basic design elements. J. F. Renfro executed the piece.

The three windows represent the three expressions of God's love, symbolized as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The left window represents God the Father expressed by two symbols. Upper panel consists of the out-stretched hand of God representing creation: all things are made by Him. This symbol also represents the redemptive nature of God as the saving and guiding hand.

For those who believe, Jesus taught that the creative power of life is like a good and loving Father in Heaven. We address our creator not impersonally or mechanically but as 'Our Father who art in Heaven...'.

The lower panel consists of an open Bible representing the Word of the Father. The Word is a faithful word, true and lasting. It not only instructs but also confronts and stains. 'The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth,' John 1:14.

Jesus is the living word. In Him, the printed and spoken word came alive, active and dynamic. The central window panel represents God and Son.

The upper panel contains a crown and cross, representing the theme of Christ the King.

The creed of Christians was simply 'Jesus is Lord': no Caesar no King but Christ. It is He who choose to rule our lives.

The lower panel is a copy of a painting by Holman Hunt, 'Light of the World,' circa 1854, inspired by the biblical story found in Revelations 3:20. Jesus is standing outside the door of the human heart. He knocks. There is no handle on the outside. It can only be opened from the inside. Picture depicted Jesus dressed in white with a red robe and sandals, holding a staff in his left hand while knocking on a door with his right hand. Jesus appears under an olive tree in a palatial garden.

The hymn 'O Jesus Thou Art Standing' (No. 211) in The Hymnal by William W. Howe (1867) is frequently associated with this picture.

Right window represents God the Holy Spirit. The upper panel is a white dove with olive branch descending from heaven. The dove is used many times in the Bible: as the spirit of salvation Noah and baptism Jesus Mathew 3:13. The Holy Spirit of Life descends from heaven to earth. The human spirit is lifted up by God's Spirit.

Lower panel contains an image of grapes, chalice, and wheat. These are symbols of the Holy Spirit represented by the fellow-ship that we celebrate as Communion. The bread and wine were given at the Lord's Table to emphasize that when Jesus leaves, He will leave behind the Holy Spirit as our Counselor, Greek Paraclete. John 14:26. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the Upper Room, on the day we call Pentecost Acts 2.