Old St. Andrew's Episcopal Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
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St. Andrew's Church building in 2008
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 Location in Central Jacksonville
Location in Florida
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| Location | 317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida |
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| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Robert S. Schuyler |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000593 |
| Added to NRHP | May 4, 1976 |
The St. Andrew's Episcopal Church building, also known as Old St. Andrew's Event Venue, is a really old and important building in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It used to be a church, but it closed in 1960 when the church moved to a new area. On May 4, 1976, this historic building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, which means it's officially recognized as a special landmark. In the 1990s, the City of Jacksonville bought the building. Now, the Jacksonville Historical Society takes care of it, and it's used for many different events.
A Look Back: St. Andrew's Church History
The St. Andrew's Episcopal Church was designed by an architect named Robert S. Schuyler. He designed it in the Gothic Revival style, which was popular for churches back then. Schuyler also designed other churches in Florida, like St. Peter's Church in Fernandina.
The church was built in 1887. It was made from brick and had a huge tower with a bell area and a tall, pointy roof. It stood at 317 Florida Avenue, which is now called 317 A. Philip Randolph Boulevard. People really admired its design. In 1889, a book called King's Handbook of Notable Episcopal Churches in the United States said it was "one of the most satisfying pieces of architecture in the South."
This new Church ... is regarded as one of the most satisfying pieces of architecture in the South. It is built of pressed brick laid in black mortar, the trimmings being of stone. The ground plan is cruciform, the vestry-room on one side and the organ-chamber on the other forming the transepts. The chancel and nave are separated by three arches of masonry. The chancel, in addition to the usual furniture, has seats for a vested choir of forty voices. The interior woodwork of the building is Florida pine, carefully selected and as carefully put together. The doors, a special gift, are made of solid mahogany. The ceiling is panelled with yellow pine. The tower rises to a height of 120 feet, and is the highest now in the city.
St. Andrew's was very strong. It was the only major church in Jacksonville that survived the terrible Great Fire of 1901.
A Changing City: Why the Church Moved
After World War II, the area around the church changed a lot. Many factories and businesses moved in. Big projects like the Gator Bowl Stadium (built in 1949) and the Mathews Bridge (opened in 1953) were constructed nearby. The Jacksonville Baseball Park also started being built in 1954.
Because of all this new development, the neighborhood became very busy and noisy. People who lived there started moving to quieter areas, like the suburbs. As families moved away, fewer people attended St. Andrew's Church. The number of members dropped so much that the church couldn't afford to stay open.
In 1960, the church officially closed its doors. All the church's items were moved to a new location. The old St. Andrew's Episcopal Church building was then left empty and boarded up for nearly 30 years. It fell into disrepair.
However, things changed when the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team came to the city. The City of Jacksonville bought a lot of land around the new stadium, including the old St. Andrew's site.
Bringing the Church Back to Life
The City of Jacksonville decided to give the Jacksonville Historical Society the chance to restore the old church building. Many people thought the building was too damaged to be fixed. But the Historical Society worked hard to save it.
In 1996, they received a special grant of $242,000 from the state of Florida. They also got help from the Weaver Foundation, which helped them raise a total of $1 million for the project.
The restoration work began in 1996 and was finished on April 18, 1998. The building became the new home for the Jacksonville Historical Society. Today, Old St. Andrew's is considered one of the most beautiful 19th-century buildings in Duval County. It's a popular place for meetings, weddings, and other community events. For example, ESPN even held a party there for Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005!
