With land acquired, a congregational meeting held on 9 July 1884 elected a Building Committee to begin plans for a church building. The committee was instructed to only accept bids from Los Gatos builders. Mr. N.S. Hitchcock was given the contract for the building which was to cost $1800. A Mr. Taylor was the architect. Rev. Moodie suggested that a belfry be added to the contract. He offered to buy the old chapel plus a 50 foot frontage on Church Street for $500, the money to be used for the belfry. As part of the agreement he would re-sell the lot and chapel to the church at a later date.
Since money was needed immediately the Trustees voted to borrow $600 from the Bank of Los Gatos for 90 days, "or until such time as the Board of Church Erection gives that sum". The Board came through with that amount and continued its aid for four years.
The total cost of the church was $5000. which included furniture, organ, chairs, carpets, chandelier, fence, and shed. The ladies of the church purchased the chairs and organ, the young ladies got the chandelier and some of the furnishings. The church bell was procured by subscription primarily through the efforts of Mr. G.W. McGrew and was installed in the belfry.
The church building was dedicated on Sunday, 3 May 1885 with Rev. H.C. Minton of San Jose preaching. At this service $276 was raised making the congregation debt free with $6.35 remaining. Mr. H.C. Woodham, the Secretary-Treasurer, expressed his pleasure at this response.
Following major fires in Los Gatos in 1888 and 1891, on 8 September 1892, the Trustees voted to allow the church bell to be used as a fire alarm bell "for fires only". The use of church bells as community alarms continued until the turn of the century when Los Gatos installed its own fire alarm bell.
By Bob Ekstrand with excerpts from: History of the First United Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, 1881-1972 by George W. Bruntz 1972