Florida Churches

St. Rita Catholic Church ... January-March 2016

This is the parish that our friends Gary and Carol in Zephyrhills regularly attend.  We attended Mass here with them.

St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church ... January 2015

This is the church that Pat and Gail O'Connor attend while at their winter home in Lake Placid FL.

St. Clement Catholic Church ... January - March 2016

We attended Mass here on New Year's Eve, 2015.

St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church ... January - March 2016

This is the church that we attended most while in Zephyrhills..

Ancient City Baptist Church ... January 2015

This is an old church our tour went by in St. Augustine.  According to their website, "Ancient City Baptist Church was organized January 20, 1887 with 18 charter members. The group originally met in the Armory of the old Genovar Opera House, which was located where the St. George Pharmacy stands. The Reverend H.M. King was the first pastor. In 1894, Henry Flagler generously agreed to give a good lot worth about $5,000 with the stipulation that the church body had only two years to erect a building at a cost of not less than $10,000 and that it had to be debt free. Mr. Flagler also requested that the church never put a mortgage on the church property and never hang a bell in the tower. The church building was completed in April 1895 and dedicated on February 2, 1896.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine ... January 2015

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is home to the Diocese of St. Augustine.  This is considered to be the first parish established in America.  A number of churches existed before this one but were destroyed in various fires over the years.  This church was built in 1889.

The Mission Nombre de Dios/Prince of Peach Votive Church ... January 2015

According to the website of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, the city of St. Augustine was founded and established in 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles.  He sighted land in the area that is now Cape Canaveral on August 28, the feast day of Saint Augustine of Hippo.  Menendez decided to give that saint's name to his first settlement.  He continued sailing north and landed in the harbor of present day St. Augustine at a native tribe of the Timucuan nation.  Some of his party landed on September 6 and Menendez himself came ashore on September 8.  Once on shore, he was presented a cross to kiss by Father Lopez de Mendoza Grajales as the hymn Te Deum Laudamus was sung.  Mass was celebrated immediately following this and the oldest permanently occupied European settlement in what is now the United States of America was established.  It is also considered to be the beginnings of what would be the Cathedral Parish.  This site is now home to a 204 foot cross, the "Beacon of Faith" that was erected to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the parish.  The Prince of Peace Votive Church is also on the grounds of the mission.

Grace UM Church ... January 2015

There is a very interesting story behind the Grace Methodist Church in St. Augustine.  The church was established in 1881 and over the next few years, services were held in various places.  Their first church was built in 1884.  However, this church was on land that was of utmost importance to Henry Flagler in his plans for the Ponce de Leon and other hotels he had planned.  He proposed to the Methodist community that he would build them a new church on this site.  They accepted and this church was constructed.

Memorial Presbyterian Church ... January 2015

According to the brochure we were given when we toured this church, "Henry Morrison Flagler built this church to the glory of God as a memorial to his daughter, Jennie Louise Flagler Benedict, who passed away as a result of childbirth in 1889.  The church was dedicated in March of 1890."

This structure is absolutely magnificent.  The lighting fixtures are all original.  The pews and several other items are all hand-carved mahogany.  There are several bronze, double-cross chandeliers that were originally gas but were electrified in the 1920s.  The dome is over 100 feet tall.  Ninety-two stained glass windows were installed in 1902 and contain the Apostle's Creed.  This facility has to be seen to be believed!  There is even a mausoleum where Flagler, his first wife, his daughter and her baby are all entombed.

This is Florida's first Presbyterian church, the congregation being established in 1824. 

St. Anastasia RC Church ... January 2015

We attended Mass here on Saturday, January 24, when we were in St. Augustine.  This is actually located on Anastasia Island which is off the coast of St. Augustine in the St. Augustine Beach area. 

Trinity Episcopal Church ... January 2015

This is another church in the old downtown area of St. Augustine. 

St. Matthew Catholic Church ... February/March 2015

This is one of two Catholic churches in Winter Haven and is the one we usually attended during our time there in 2015.There is a very nice area at the side of the church that is focused on the Stations of the Cross. 

St. Joseph's Catholic Church ... February/March 2015

There are two Catholic churches in Winter Haven.  This one is located downtown and we occasionally attended it during our stay there in 2015.

St. Joseph Catholic Church ... January - March 2016

This is the Catholic church in Zephyrhills.  We attended Mass here a few times.