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Historic Florida Churches
By Joy Sheffield Harris
Joy Harris
Jul 12, 20241 min read
Historic Florida Churches Cover Photos
Top left: Grace Church, Orange Park, Clay County, c. 1880. Top right: Former St. Rita’s Catholic Church Mission now Mary S. Harrell Black...
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Joy Harris
Feb 20, 20240 min read
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Joy Harris
Feb 15, 20241 min read
Safety Harbor Church - Heritage Village Largo, Pinellas County
Once located at Green Springs the 1905 Safety harbor Church was moved to Heritage Village, Largo.
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Joy Harris
Feb 13, 20241 min read
All that's left of Pine Level is the Church
Pine Level United Methodist Church, DeSoto County When Manatee County included present day Charlotte, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Highlands,...
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Joy Harris
Feb 8, 20241 min read
Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church
Located in Callahan, Walton County, The Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church was organized in 1828 in the town of Argyle. The log church was...
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Joy Harris
Feb 6, 20241 min read
Bethel United Methodist Church
Also known as the Old Bethel Church in Lake City, Columbia County. This historic church first served the community of Alligator and...
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Joy Harris
Jan 30, 20241 min read
Pigeon Creek Baptist Church
Pigeon Creek Baptist Church in Nassau County was organized 1821. The back of the granite marker located in front of the church describes...
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Joy Harris
Jan 24, 20241 min read
Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine and Museum
The Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine and Museum on George Street, was built 1749 and served as a religious center in 1777. It...
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Joy Harris
Jan 17, 20241 min read
Nombre de Dios Mission
The historic site of Mission Nombre de Dios (in the Name of God) is where Pedro Menéndez de Aviles landed when he arrived at the area he...
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Joy Harris
Jan 10, 20241 min read
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude)
The historic site of the chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is located on St. George Street south of today’s Cathedral Basilica....
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Joy Harris
Jan 3, 20241 min read
In God We Trust
Florida's official state motto is “In God We Trust.” The Florida Capitol is one of the few statehouses that has a chapel, the Heritage...
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Joy Harris
Dec 20, 20231 min read
Spanish Architecture & Florida
The Spanish influence on architecture is reflected beautifully throughout Florida as seen in some of our churches, from the Cathedral...
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Joy Harris
Dec 13, 20231 min read
Flagler's Big Three
Three churches built in the late 1800s with the help of Henry Flagler are within walking distance of one another: Grace United Methodist...
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Joy Harris
Nov 29, 20231 min read
Pretty Little Citra Churches
As the church bell rang…. Imagine what it must have been like to walk through the door of a newly built church in 1880’s Florida. What...
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Joy Harris
Nov 17, 20231 min read
Circuit Rider Richard Johnson Mays
Richard Johnson Mays, a circuit rider, began preaching in 1832, although he wasn’t ordained until 1841. Mays is credited with building at...
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Joy Harris
Aug 3, 20232 min read
The First 7 Episcopal Parishes
The Episcopal seal of the diocese of Florida features seven golden stars representing the seven original Florida churches. The former St....
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Joy Harris
Jun 9, 20231 min read
Country Classic Moss Hill
Moss Hill Methodist Church - the oldest unaltered building in Washington County, The unpainted wood frame weathered to a silver-gray...
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Joy Harris
Jun 9, 20231 min read
Camels, Creeks, Cows and Churches
Our road trips were more than historic churches as we traversed the Sunshine State looking for picture-perfect moments to capture for my...
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Joy Harris
Jun 9, 20232 min read
Cookbooks to Churches and Road Trips
What started out as a weekend get-away for Jack and me has evolved into a book about Historic Florida Churches. After writing my first...
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Joy Harris
Jun 5, 20232 min read
Churches and Cathedrals of Florida
Whether a small county church or an elaborate cathedral the church bells are ringing as a call to worship or just a simple reminder of...
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