| Memorial Presbyterian Church St. Augustine Florida |
| The Presbyterian church was organized October 31, 1823 with 26 members. The Memorial Presbyterian Church was built by Henry Flagler in memory of his daughter Jennie Louise Benedict. The architects are John Carrere and Thomas Hastings. The builders are the construction firm of McGuire and McDonald. The church is a Venetian Renaissance Revival style. It is modeled after St. Marks in Venice. The church took a little less than one year to build. The church was completed in 1890. Dec 23, 1888: The plans of the new Presbyterian Church to be erected here by Mr. Flagler are now being finished by Messrs. Carrere and Hastingks in New York. They will arrive in St. Augustine about the 15th of January, when work upon the edifice will immediately commence under the supervision of Mr. McDonald of Messrs. McGuire and McDonald. Mr. McDonald would not inform your reporter what the church would cost but said the structure would be the finest and most costly house of worship south of Washington, D.C. 4 April 1890 conveyed building between Henry M. Flagler and Ida Alice Flagler and the trustees of Presbyterian: "shall be a temple devoted to the worship of God and the teaching of that saving faith in which she lived and died." erected in the city of St. Augustine Florida a church edifice in loving commeneration of her spotless life, her virtues and her Christian devotion. (Baptismal Font) |
| The cooper dome reaches 150 feet into the air with the Greek Cross adding another 20 more feet. The dedication ceremony was attended by the wife of Benjamin Harrison and Vice President Levi Morton. |
| Below: Early 20th century picture of altar. Source: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Historic American Buildings Survey or Historic American Engineering Record, Reproduction Number (Ex:"HABS,ILL,16-CHIG,33-2") |
| Old Manse Library of Congress |
| Manse interior Library of Congress |
| Building Plans Library of Congress |
| Interior of Memorial Presbyterian Church The floor is of imported Siena tile laid in Venetian pattern, relieved by twelve plaques of violet broccia marble symbolic of the twelve apostles. The great Baptismal Font is one solid piece of Siena marble, an unusually fine specimen of Italian carving. Above the font is the curved eagle lectern; upon it is a Bible of extraordinary size and design, its leather binding riclhly ornamental with hand-wrought silver cherubim and a memorial plaque. Above and behind the rostrum is the beautifully carved choir screen; from this loft the organ is played and the choir sings. During the service the choir is all but invisible. The distinctive stained glass windows, representing the several articles of the Apostles' Creed, were a special gift of Mr. Flagler dedicated in 1902. HABS report. |