St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Green Cove Springs, Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary's Church
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Green Cove Springs, Florida |
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| Built | 1879 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000933 |
| Added to NRHP | February 17, 1978 |
St. Mary's Episcopal Church is a beautiful old church in Green Cove Springs, Florida. It's known for its special style called Carpenter Gothic, which means it looks like a fancy wooden building. This church is located at 400 St. Johns Avenue. On February 17, 1978, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important places that are worth protecting.
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The Story of St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church started in 1878. It was a mission church for the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. At that time, Green Cove Springs was a very popular place for people to visit in the winter. A woman from Boston, who spent her winters there, asked Bishop John Freeman Young to build a church. She wanted a place for the town's visitors and residents to worship.
People who visited in the winter and those who lived there all year helped raise money. They collected over $1,000 to build the church. Someone also donated a piece of land worth $500. The very first church service was held on March 10, 1879. The church building stands on tall supports, about three feet high. It is also quite close to the St. Johns River, about 40 feet away.
Beautiful Stained-Glass Windows
The church has amazing stained-glass windows. They came from Colgate Studio in New York City. This studio was one of the first places in the United States to make stained glass. The windows were designed by Henry E. Sharp. They are some of the earliest examples of American-made stained glass in Florida.
These special windows cost $1,100 when the church was built. Behind the altar, there are three beautiful women shown in the windows. They represent important qualities of St. Mary: faith, charity (kindness), and hope. An angel named Gabriel is in the middle of the rose window above the altar.
Making the Windows Shine Again
In 2012, people from the church congregation helped restore the windows. The church has about 150 members. They made donations to fix the 18 stained-glass Lancet windows. These windows are on the east and west sides of the church. In 2013, the church received a $22,500 grant from the state to finish the window restoration. An anonymous donor also matched the state grant.
The restoration work included cleaning the windows. Workers also re-stenciled and re-leaded them if needed. They also repaired the frames that hold the windows. To protect the stained glass, it was covered with clear Lexan. This is a special plastic that blocks harmful ultraviolet light. It also allows air to flow, which helps prevent moisture and sun damage.
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