Lutcher Memorial Church Building

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Lutcher Memorial Church Building in Orange County. Now settle in, because this is a story about faith, fortune, and a woman who built something magnificent and then asked that nobody ever talk about how much it cost. That alone ought to tell you something.

The First Presbyterian Church of Orange got its start in 1878, and for its first few years the congregation made do with a frame structure built in 1883 at Market and Polk Street. That served them well enough. But then came 1912, and everything changed.

That year, the congregation moved into a new building, one that Frances Ann Lutcher had erected as a gift from the Lutcher family. You might know the Lutcher name. H.

J. Lutcher, born in 1836 and gone by 1912, had amassed a considerable fortune through the Lutcher and Moore Lumber Company. Frances Ann, born in 1841 and living until 1924, and the whole Lutcher family, including their two daughters, Carrie Brown and Miriam Stark, were known as philanthropists and community leaders.

So when Mrs. Lutcher decided to give this church a proper home, she did not hold back. She asked only one thing in return: that the cost of the building never be publicized.

She and her descendants also set up a permanent endowment to keep the facility maintained. Now, we can't tell you what it cost. But we can tell you what she built.

The art glass windows were made by Lamb Studios of New York. For the upper foyer, Mrs. Lutcher chose three prize-winning windows from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Three winners. In the foyer. The marble came from Italy.

The granite was shipped by rail all the way from Llano, Texas. The dome is topped by a copper cupola. The sanctuary ceiling and walls carry decorations with gold leaf overlay.

The pews and wood paneling in the organ loft are mahogany. Mosaic work adorns the pulpit, the marble communion table, and the baptismal font. Fine workmanship and materials appear throughout.

Mrs. Lutcher never wanted anyone speculatin' about the price tag. She got her wish.

But she left the building to do all the talking, and that building has been talking ever since.

What the marker says

Founded in 1878, the First Presbyterian Church initially occupied a frame structure built in 1883 at Market and Polk Street. In 1912 the congregation moved to this church building which Frances Ann (Mrs. Henry Jacob) Lutcher (1841-1924) had erected as a gift from the Lutcher family. H. J. Lutcher (1836-1912) amassed a fortune in the Lutcher & Moore Lumber Company. The Lutchers and their two daughters Carrie (Mrs. E. W.) Brown and Miriam (Mrs. William H.) Stark were philanthropists and community leaders. Mrs. Lutcher asked that the cost of the building never be publicized. She and her descendants set up a permanent endowment to maintain the facility. Fine workmanship and materials appear throughout the structure. The beautiful art glass windows were made by Lamb Studios of New York. For the upper foyer, Mrs. Lutcher chose three prize-winning windows from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The marble came from Italy and the granite was shipped by rail from Llano, Texas. The dome is topped by a copper cupola. Decorations on the sanctuary ceiling and walls have gold leaf overlay. The pews and wood paneling in the organ loft are mahogany. Mosaic work adorns the pulpit, marble communion table and baptismal font. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1978