| Home | Parish Life | Sacraments | History | Visitors | Contact Us |
........................................................................................................
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
...........continued. Soon after, a church was established and administered as a regular parish of the Diocese of Santiago de Cuba.
According to archaeological evidence from other mission sites in Florida, the church at St. Augustine was probably 50 by 100 feet,
made of pine posts and thatched with express fronds. But in 1586, the church was razed and burned in the infamous raids of Sir
Francis Drake, the soon to be English defender of the Spanish Armada. Through it all, Spanish Catholics held Mass in the Presidio,
the local hospital, and the homes of Catholics.
The construction of Castillo de San Marcos, a stone fortress, began in 1672. It’s completion in 1696 allowed the town to survive a
siege by Carolina Governor James Moore, who attacked and burned St. Augustine in 1702. Again, the parish church was destroyed
and again Mass was celebrated in the local hospital until 1763, when Florida was ceded to Great Britain as part of the First Treaty of
Paris concluding the French and Indian War.
Experiencing the challenges of cession and retrocession to England, a firm pastoral presence was not established until 1784, when
the church took over the old “Bishop’s House” property which is now Trinity Episcopal Church.
In 1787, the small church was placed under the Diocese of St. Christopher of Havana. And by 1788, according to Bishop Cyril of
Barcelona, “the Church of St. Augustine was progressing very satisfactorily” under the guidance of Irish priests, Fathers Thomas
Hassett and Michael O’Reilly.
Despite the progress, in 1786, the Spanish crown ordered the construction of a new parish church for St. Augustine. The cornerstone
was laid in 1793 and the church was completed and dedicated in August 1797.
On April 2, 1887, the Moorish building was burned in a great fire, but thanks to the earnest work of many parishioners, the church
was enlarged and reopened in 1888. In addition, the bell tower was built, making the Cathedral a grand sight to behold.
Architecturally, the church remained virtually intact up to the major renovation in 1965. At that time, Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley
commissioned the building of a Eucharistic Chapel, the hanging of murals depicting the Catholic history of Florida by artist Hugo
Ohlms, and the fashioning of a new tabernacle by the Gunning Company of Dublin, Ireland. Linking the building with the special care
given it by its 18th-century Irish pastors, the newly renovated Cathedral was dedicated on March 9, 1966 by Cardinal William Conway,
the primary cardinal of all Ireland.
On December 4, 1976, Pope Paul VI raised the edifice to the dignity of a Minor Basilica. It was the 27th American church to be
honored as such by the Holy See. As a testament to its historic national significance, the Cathedral-Basilica was named a National
Historic Landmark.
More than 1,260 families are registered at the parish of the Cathedral-Basilica. The parish provides many ministries and services
including its Cathedral Parish School, established in 1916, where about 365 students are enrolled. Father Thomas Willis is pastor.
According to archaeological evidence from other mission sites in Florida, the church at St. Augustine was probably 50 by 100 feet,
made of pine posts and thatched with express fronds. But in 1586, the church was razed and burned in the infamous raids of Sir
Francis Drake, the soon to be English defender of the Spanish Armada. Through it all, Spanish Catholics held Mass in the Presidio,
the local hospital, and the homes of Catholics.
The construction of Castillo de San Marcos, a stone fortress, began in 1672. It’s completion in 1696 allowed the town to survive a
siege by Carolina Governor James Moore, who attacked and burned St. Augustine in 1702. Again, the parish church was destroyed
and again Mass was celebrated in the local hospital until 1763, when Florida was ceded to Great Britain as part of the First Treaty of
Paris concluding the French and Indian War.
Experiencing the challenges of cession and retrocession to England, a firm pastoral presence was not established until 1784, when
the church took over the old “Bishop’s House” property which is now Trinity Episcopal Church.
In 1787, the small church was placed under the Diocese of St. Christopher of Havana. And by 1788, according to Bishop Cyril of
Barcelona, “the Church of St. Augustine was progressing very satisfactorily” under the guidance of Irish priests, Fathers Thomas
Hassett and Michael O’Reilly.
Despite the progress, in 1786, the Spanish crown ordered the construction of a new parish church for St. Augustine. The cornerstone
was laid in 1793 and the church was completed and dedicated in August 1797.
On April 2, 1887, the Moorish building was burned in a great fire, but thanks to the earnest work of many parishioners, the church
was enlarged and reopened in 1888. In addition, the bell tower was built, making the Cathedral a grand sight to behold.
Architecturally, the church remained virtually intact up to the major renovation in 1965. At that time, Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley
commissioned the building of a Eucharistic Chapel, the hanging of murals depicting the Catholic history of Florida by artist Hugo
Ohlms, and the fashioning of a new tabernacle by the Gunning Company of Dublin, Ireland. Linking the building with the special care
given it by its 18th-century Irish pastors, the newly renovated Cathedral was dedicated on March 9, 1966 by Cardinal William Conway,
the primary cardinal of all Ireland.
On December 4, 1976, Pope Paul VI raised the edifice to the dignity of a Minor Basilica. It was the 27th American church to be
honored as such by the Holy See. As a testament to its historic national significance, the Cathedral-Basilica was named a National
Historic Landmark.
More than 1,260 families are registered at the parish of the Cathedral-Basilica. The parish provides many ministries and services
including its Cathedral Parish School, established in 1916, where about 365 students are enrolled. Father Thomas Willis is pastor.
| 38 Cathedral Place St. Augustine, FL 32084 | 904-824-2806 © 2011 All Rights Reserved AFP - Designed by: 3 Boards Media |
| Page 2 |
| Location of Church: The Cathedral Basilica 38 Cathedral Place St. Augustine, FL 32084 |
 |