St. Mary Catholic Church (Korona, Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary Catholic Church
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St. Mary Catholic Church - Front Right Side View (Photo taken August 21, 2019)
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 89 St. Mary’s Place, Bunnell, Florida |
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| Area | 1,955 square feet (180 m2) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic (Gothic Revival) |
| NRHP reference No. | SG100009785 |
| Added to NRHP | January 25, 2024 |
The St. Mary Catholic Church (also known as the St. Mary Mother Church) is a historic building in Bunnell, Florida. It was built in a style called Carpenter Gothic, which looks like older Gothic churches but uses wood.
In the early 1910s, some Polish families moved to Korona, Florida. They raised $1000 to build a Catholic church. Korona means "crown" in Polish, which honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called "Queen of Poland." The church was built in 1914 and first named St. Mary, Queen of Poland, Catholic Church. Later, its name was changed to St. Mary Catholic Church. This original church is still used today for daily services, baptisms, weddings, and quiet prayer.
The St. Mary Catholic Church has always been a very important place for the Korona community. It is still a big part of the spiritual and cultural life for people living there. It is also the oldest church building in Flagler County.
The church property has other buildings too. These include the Shrine of Saint Christopher, a Parish Thrift Store, a Storage Shed, a Parish Center Office, and the Main Church building.
Contents
Church Design and Features
The St. Mary Catholic Church building is about 1955 square feet in size. It measures 31 feet wide and 62 feet long. There's also a small garage part that sticks out from one corner.
Outside the Church
The outside of the church is mostly covered with white painted wood. This wood siding runs horizontally. Around the bottom, there's wood lattice to cover the space under the floor.
The church has eight special windows called lancet windows. These windows are tall and narrow with a pointed arch at the top. They look like windows you would see in old Gothic churches. The glass in these windows is clear and wavy. Interestingly, St. Mary Catholic Church has never had colorful stained glass in its outside windows.
Two sections were added to the back of the church in the 1930s. One part was used as a home for the priest, with a living room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and storage. The other part was a garage for the priest's car.
The front of the church has a concrete porch, which replaced the original wood one. It has four steps and metal handrails. Two wooden entrance doors with rounded tops lead into the church. The porch has two wooden benches and a roof that matches the main church roof. Wooden pillars hold up this roof. A sign by the doors says, "St. Mary’s Church – Built by a Group of Polish Immigrants in 1914." Above the porch roof, there is one lancet window.
The right side of the church has three lancet windows in the older part. The back section on this side has three regular windows. The left side of the church has four lancet windows in the older part. The garage section on this side has two large wooden garage doors.
The back of the church has a single wooden door with a concrete porch and a wooden handrail. There are also some windows that are now covered with wood. A small roof covers these windows and the back door. There's also a door to get into the attic.
The church's roof is made of wood and covered with asphalt shingles. It matches the roof on the newer sections. Rain gutters and downspouts are installed around the building.
The steeple is at the front of the church. It has four wooden openings with louvered air vents that look like arrows. The steeple's roof also has asphalt shingles. A Christian cross made of wood and copper is at the very top of the steeple. Inside the steeple, there is a bell that can be rung by hand.
Outside Pictures
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A lancet window
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The front of the church
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A closer look at the steeple
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The church from the left back side
Inside the Church
Inside the church, there are fourteen pews, which are long benches for people to sit on. Seven pews are on each side of the middle aisle. The walls in the church and the original sacristy room have a special wooden trim called chair molding. Below this molding, the walls are covered with vertical wooden panels called wainscoting. Above the molding, the wainscoting runs horizontally to the ceiling. The entire ceiling is also covered with this same wooden wainscoting. All of this wood is painted white.
Near the front entrance, there is a confessional room. This room has separate doors for the priest and for the person confessing. There are also double entrance doors with rounded tops, stairs leading to the choir area, and a storage room under the stairs. The choir area is upstairs at the front, with seating and a low wall.
The pulpit area includes wooden railings, a baptismal font, and the main altar. There is also a smaller altar with a statue called the "Statue of the Redeemer in Death," used during Easter. You can also see various statues, pictures, and other church items here. A door leads into the church's original sacristy room.
The part of the church that used to be the priest's living area is now used for storing furniture and church items. The old garage section is now used for storing maintenance supplies.
Inside Pictures
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View of the pulpit inside the church
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The original storage room
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The Statue of the Redeemer in Death
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View from the pulpit towards the front entrance
Shrine of Saint Christopher
The Shrine of Saint Christopher was built in 1935. Saint Christopher is known as the patron saint of travelers. A missionary named Rev. Fr. Cornelius Hoffman, who studied in Poland, built it. The shrine is located on the church property, to the left side of the St. Mary Catholic Church. It is 28 feet by 40 feet at its base and 24 feet tall.
The Shrine was a gift to Korona. It serves as a rest stop for drivers who want to visit and pray to the Patron Saint of Travelers. Since the 1960s, the St. Mary Catholic Church has held special services called the "Blessing of Automobiles." During these events, drivers can have their cars blessed in front of the Shrine of Saint Christopher. The shrine has an altar on its west side with a special message. It asks for God's blessing for visitors on their journeys, hoping they travel in peace, health, and joy.
Shrine Pictures
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Southwest View of the Shrine
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View of the Saint Christopher statue
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A closer look at the Southwest View
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The Shrine from the North
History of Korona, Florida
Bishop Michael Curley bought land for just $1.00 in the middle of Korona. This is where the St. Mary Catholic Church was built. The church was first named St. Mary, Queen of Poland, Catholic Church. Later, its name was changed to St. Mary Catholic Church. This church quickly became the heart of the community. It is still a very important symbol for the people of Korona.
When the Polish families arrived in Korona, they started building homes and farms. They also built their church. Since 1955, Korona has been part of the Bunnell post office area.
The area was wild and challenging. It had thick forests, heavy soil, many insects, poor drainage, and not many good roads. This made it hard to grow crops and transport them to selling centers.
By 1922, car travel got better when the Dixie Highway reached Korona. By the 1930s, U.S. Highway 1 also ran through Korona. These roads made it much easier to travel to and from Korona by car. They also connected the area to more places that trains did not reach.
In 1926, Barney Trojanowski built the White Eagle Hotel. The first floor of the hotel had a grocery and feed store, plus a real estate office. The second floor had rooms for the family and guests. The building was a social place with a beer garden (after 1934) and a large dance floor. Many festivals and special events, including church events, were held here. In 1959, the White Eagle Hotel was taken down to make room for widening U.S. Highway 1.
In 1935, the Shrine of St. Christopher was built by Rev. Fr. Cornelius Hoffman. It was a gift to Korona. Many community and church events have happened at this shrine, like the popular Blessing of the Automobiles. Since it was built, the shrine has brought many travelers to Korona. It is still a popular stop for drivers today.
In 1940, Korona got a big improvement when electricity was connected. This helped the rural area become more modern and improved the lives of the people living there.
As the Korona community grew during the 20th century, the original St. Mary Catholic Church became too small. A new, larger St. Mary Catholic Church was built and opened on October 8, 1994. This new church can hold up to 500 people, including Polish-speaking church members who travel from far away.
In 2011, a new Parish Center was built on the church property. It has classrooms, offices, and a social hall. In 2014, the St. Vincent DePaul Thrift store was built there too. This store provides affordable clothing and household items to people in need in Korona and nearby areas.
Becoming a Historic Place
The St. Mary Catholic Church was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 25, 2024. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. The church is important for its architecture, its connection to Polish heritage, and its role in the settlement of the area. The Shrine of Saint Christopher is also included as part of this historic listing.
