St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Palatka, one of Florida’s oldest and most significant African American churches, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The 143-year-old sanctuary, built between 1883 and 1884 in the Carpenter Gothic style, has been recognized for its cultural and architectural significance.

Preserving Palatka’s Heritage

The designation represents a key milestone in preserving Palatka’s cultural and architectural heritage, according to city officials. The nomination of St. Mary’s was driven by Dianne Taylor, who researched and prepared the nomination with the help of the congregation, community advocates, the City Commission, and the city’s Historic Preservation Board.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church is among Florida’s oldest African American wooden churches still serving its congregation. It was documented in a history of Florida’s Carpenter Gothic churches, filed in 1997 by the National Register. The church is one of at least 15 mission churches built along the St. John’s River, including St. George’s on Fort George Island and the Church of Our Savior in Mandarin.

Mayor Robbi Correa said the addition of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church is “a tremendous honor” for the community. “This designation recognizes not only the architectural beauty of this historic church, but also the generations of faith, perseverance, and community leadership it represents,” Correa said in an announcement on the designation.

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of historic properties worthy of preservation. It recognizes sites that have made significant contributions to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. More than 100,000 sites nationwide are listed on the National Register’s website.

Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.