First Evangelical Church
a.k.a. First Evangelical Lutheran Church
1311 Holman St., Houston, TXThe First Evangelical Church has deep roots in Houston's history. The church was founded in 1851 by German immigrants, and three church buildings at three different locations have served the congregation. The architecture of the 1927 campus is a notable example of Italian Renaissance architecture. The architect, J. W. Northrop, Jr., came to Houston with the Boston firm Cram, Goodhue, and Ferguson to oversee the construction of their buildings designed for Rice Institute (now Rice University), and stayed in practice here for more than forty years. Northrop designed several churches and notable residences in Houston. The congregation is notable in Houston's history for its association with German immigration and the ethnic diversity of the city's development, and for several notable members of the congregation who made important contributions to Houston's history. The First Evangelical Church is nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in the area of Architecture at the local level of significance and for Religious Properties is met, since the property derives its primary significance from architectural distinction.
Local significance of the building:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.