First Church Property: September 17, 1881

Church meetings were initially held in Lyndon Hall on West Main Street, but soon were worshipping in " a little chapel above Forbes Mill". This had been the McMillan home, which was purchased by Rev. Moodie and converted into a chapel. On September 17, 1881 the Los Gatos Weekly News reported "The Presbyterian Church will have religious service and Sabbath School next Sabbath as heretofore, at Lyndon Hall, but hope to remove soon to their new chapel on the corner of Church Avenue and Mill Street". The new chapel needed some repair and the next week the News reported, "under the skillful manipulation of Messrs. Hudson, Templeton, Henderson, and Butler, the new Presbyterian Chapel was neatly lined and papered last week".

A permanent lot for a church building was needed. As early as August 1, 1881 the local press reported, "the Trustees and minister of the Presbyterian Church are looking for a suitable building site". In 1882 the congregation purchased additional land around the chapel for $1400, most of the money having been raised by the women. The women staged a "big lawn party at the McMurtry home on Friday, September 10, 1881, attended by more tan 250 people from as far away as San Jose". On October 9,1883, Dr. W.S. McMurtry offered to donate land on Church Street and this offer was gratefully accepted. The Presbyterians now had land and were ready to plan their first church building.

By Bob Ekstrand with excerpts from: History of the First United Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, 1881-1972 by George W. Bruntz 1972