First English Lutheran Church and School of Los Angeles

12/09/2025

Test

06/11/2020

When I realized there was literally nothing on the internet regarding this incredible institution that served the people of Los Angeles from 1887 to 2006 I thought something should exist regarding both this church and its elementary school. The church was founded in 1887 on the corner of 8th and Flower In downtown Los Angeles. It is the second oldest Lutheran Church in California. Only St. Marks, San Francisco predates it. The word "English" was in the title to indicate the services were in English, not German. The "English" was removed in 1960 and the church became known simply as "First Lutheran Church of Los Angeles. In 1937 it moved to the burbs on the corner of 6th and Shatto Place in Wilshire Center. In 1947 the church founded an elementary school which featured academic excellence and became the school of choice for the residents of Hancock Park. My family became active in this church just as it moved to this location. Three generations of my relations have been in leadership positions here so the post's banner photo is of the "new" church. I have an extensive archive on the church and will be posting as much as possible. When the synod sold the structure in 2011 it was purchased by an academy that turned the sanctuary into a gym. When I last saw it several of the windows had been broken. It sold in 2019 and the proposal for the site, approved by the city will have an apartment tower on the grounds of the former school and the church itself will be converted to a restaurant. I invite any of you whose lives have been touched by this institution, church or school or both to post photos, thoughts and memories and in general see this wonderful place is not forgotten to time.
I

06/11/2020

06/11/2020

This is the original sanctuary of First English Lutheran Church on the corner of 8th and Flower. The church had some amazing pastors in its early years but in the 1920's a Reverend Dysinger was engaged. The leadership grew discontent and asked for a replacement. The national church sent Dr. Huber however Dysinger refused to leave. The congregation split and Dr. Huber and the leadership were forced to rent space across the street while the battle went to the State Supreme Court. The charter was awarded to Dr. Huber and his followers who moved back into the sanctuary. But they soon felt it would be best to sell the church and move to what were the suburbs back in the 30's Dr. Huber's daughter, Berta Pontius, said the charter was cemented into the altar of the "new" church where it supposedly remains to this day.

06/11/2020

This is a photo of the altar area of the original First English Lutheran Church on the corner of 8th and Flower.

06/11/2020

Upstairs in the "New" church building was a large fellowship hall with stage, kitchen and Parlor with fireplace. In later years this stage was scene to many musicals performed each year by the 6th grade class. This photo shows an early Sunday school performance.

06/11/2020

This shows the entire chancel. Above the organ on the left side was the organ chamber. Above the small chapel on the right hand side was an apartment for the custodian. He lived full time at the church and from his apartment, through the grill work, he was able to see the entire sanctuary. When the church was built and up until the 1960's it was open 24 hours a day for prayer and meditation.

06/11/2020

This is the photo of the back wall of the sanctuary and the "faux mezzanine" level. Note the Last Supper Painting. It was supposed to go to California Lutheran University at the sale of the building but is still there as far as I know. The rose window is the only window not commission from Judson studios. Pastor Huber himself commissioned it from the last of a line of Munich glass makers and had it imported from Germany. You can't truly see it beauty from this photo. The pascal lamb is in the central circle of glass.

06/11/2020

This is a view of the side chapel. note the beautiful reproduction of Raphael's "Madonna of the Chair" over the small altar.m The church commissioned Candelario Rivas to pain this as well as a reproduction of Bernard Plockhorst's "Holy Family Flees to Egypt" and the DaVinci "Last Supper" in the rear of the sanctuary. He also painted 12 stations of the cross which hung on the side walls before the 60's renovation.