Cathederal of St Augustine Oldest Catholic Parish
N 29° 53.567 W 081° 18.764
17R E 469805 N 3306946
The oldest Catholic Parish in the United States.
Waymark Code: WM32MV
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 01/30/2008
Views: 76
The parish of St. Augustine, which dates from the celebration of a mass on September 8, 1565, by the Spaniard Pedro Menedez and his men, is the oldest Catholic parish within the present day United States. During Queen Anne's War, the English Governor of South Carolina, James Moore, raided St. Augustine and destroyed an earlier church. Plagued by financial difficulties, the parish was unable to construct a new church until this coquina edifice was begun in 1793. Completed in 1797, it became a cathedral in 1870 when St. Augustine was elevated to a diocese. Augustin Verot was invested as the first bishop. In 1887, fire severely damaged the cathedral, but the facade and walls remained standing and were preserved when the building was restored in 1887-1888. The chancel, transcept and campanile were added at that time. Further restoration was carried out in 1965.
FIRST - Classification Variable: Place or Location
Date of FIRST: 08/08/1565
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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