The Oldest Church in Florida Has a Fascinating History

The oldest church in Florida is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, a Catholic cathedral in the coastal community of St. Augustine, FL.

Although this isn’t widely understood, the town of St. Augustine is actually the first mainland European settlement that was constructed and continuously inhabited by Europeans on the North American continent.

If you’re a fan of churches, or history, or the history of churches, take a look at this overview of some interesting information regarding this highly historical church.

The History of St. Augustine

Many familiar with St. Augustine and its Cathedral pair the birth of the two in the same moment – at least metaphorically speaking. In 1565, the Spanish first visited the shores of Florida. They reached the mainland having traveled northward from their expansion efforts in the Caribbean Sea.

A Catholic Priest by the name of Padre Lopez de Mendoza Grajales consecrated a cross on a beach in Southern Florida. This is considered to be the first Catholic Mass that ever took place in the continental United States.

The actual construction of the Cathedral building took place much later, however. The original structure began its construction in the early 1700s. The proper construction of the Church is considered to have taken place between the years 1793-1797.

The Cathedral was granted the title of Basilica in 1870 when it became the seat of Bishop Augustin Verot. The church is notable for the amount of sacred Catholic relics it contains. This includes the finger bone of St. Augustine of Hippo, who gave the church its namesake.

Nowadays, the Cathedral is a National Historic Landmark. Many would consider it a title befitting the historic church considering its extensive history.

The Context of Its Construction

The construction of the St. Augustine Cathedral took place during the Kingdom of Spain’s return to being predominantly Catholic in opposition to the Protestant Reformation.

The original construction that predated the proper construction of the cathedral was actually destroyed by Sir Francis Drake and his men in 1586. During this period of colonization, the Spanish and British were frequently at odds in a landscape that had not been divided between the two empires in a more formal sense.

A more proper edifice was constructed in 1605 by more experienced architects before again being burned down by the British in 1702. The currently standing cathedral is the third iteration of the building.

The Architecture of The Cathedral

St. Augustine Cathedral is built in an architectural style that’s a synthesis of Spanish mission and Neoclassical styles. The building has elements of Spanish mission-style buildings such as clay roof tiles and curved bell gables. The Neoclassical styles of the building shine through its Doric columns and the numerous triglyphs that decorate it.

One very interesting element of the church’s style is that it’s constructed with a material known as coquina. Coquina is a type of sedimentary rock that slowly develops from the deposition of seashells on the shore over millennia.

This unique material hardens when taken out of the sea and is exposed to air. However, the material remains pliable enough that it can be worked by masons during construction. In 1887 the original Spanish structure that comprised the cathedral burned down. The state of Florida undertook its reconstruction and some of the original coquina survived the fire. Despite this, the reconstruction has utilized mostly concrete to rebuild.

Art Inside the Cathedral

The inside of the Cathedral is fairly lavishly decorated, at least in comparison to the somewhat demure exterior. At the centerpiece of the main hall is a depiction of Jesus, not nailed to the cross but in a state of ascension.

Various oil paintings depicting important scenes from Christianity adorn the walls. There are also side chapels with mosaics decorating them as well. Many of the Cathedral’s walls are decorated in an umbrish shade of red.

How Can I Visit St. Augustine?

St. Augustine is located smack dab in the middle of historic downtown St. Augustine at 38 Cathedral Place. The town of St. Augustine itself is about two hours north of Orlando along the Eastern coast of Florida.

There are daily tours one can take in order to learn more about the church. In addition to practicing many of the standard Catholic processions, such as lighting candles and daily mass. If you’re looking to tie the knot, St. Augustine is a fabulous venue for a Catholic wedding.