Published: June 20, 2009 09:35 pm      

Moving back in

First Presbyterian Church congregation goes back to sanctuary after renovation

More than 9 months after Hurricane Ike ravaged Orange County, members of the First Presbyterian Church of Orange are going home.

The church has had only one service in the sanctuary since Ike inflicted heavy damage back in September, according to Leader archives. Ike’s rainfall extensively damaged the upstairs sanctuary and other areas of the church.

“Some of the restoration has been on hold since Ike,” said church member and property groundskeeper Jeep Colburn, referring to the massive restoration project announced in May 2008 that includes the restoration of the church dome and stained-glass windows. “We had to replace the roof, and have the sanctuary repainted. We just finished that.”

Colburn told The Leader that members had planned to have church services in the sanctuary last weekend but postponed it due to air conditioning problems.

According to the church’s website, The First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1878, with the first church building being located at Market and Polk Street just south of downtown. Construction of the church’s current building commenced in 1908 under the direction of Kansas City architect James Oliver Hogg; the building’s granite was quarried and dressed in Llano, northwest of Austin, and the marble for the building was brought from Italy. The church building was named Lutcher Memorial because it was planned, built and underwritten by Mrs. H.J. Lutcher as a memorial to the H.J. Lutcher family. Lutcher Memorial Building was dedicated on Jan. 28, 1912; it was one of the first air-conditioned buildings in the United States. When the church was first built, there was not enough power in Orange to operate the church’s heating, cooling and lighting systems; a private power plant was built next to the church to meet the need.

The interior of the First Presbyterian Church was refurbished by the J&R Lamb Studios in 1962 upon the 50th anniversary of the new building; exterior protective glass covering the windows was replaced, and the dome was cleaned, according to the church’s web site.

“It’s been a major undertaking,” Colburn said of the post-Ike renovation. “There has been a lot of patience and hard work on the part of the congregation. We are ready to get back in.”



Erik Onstott is a reporter and page designer for the Orange Leader. He may be reached at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2616 or eonstott@orangeleader.com