Memorial Presbyterian Church - St. Augustine, Florida

The historic Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Augustine, Florida, is located on Valencia Street. This treatment, in a glowing and dramatic digital... more

by Mitch Spence

Title

Memorial Presbyterian Church - St. Augustine, Florida

Artist

Mitch Spence

Medium

Photograph - Digital Painting

Description

The historic Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Augustine, Florida, is located on Valencia Street. This treatment, in a glowing and dramatic digital painting style, shows a straight-on view of the main entrance of the beautiful building and emphasizes its unique architecture. According to Wikipedia, the church has been named by many news outlets, including CNN and USA Today, as one of the religious wonders of the U.S. and one of the most beautiful Protestant churches in the world. The church was built in 1889 by business tycoon and St. Augustine benefactor Henry Morrison Flagler and dedicated in honor of his daughter Jennie Louise Benedict, who died following complications from childbirth at sea the same year.

Designed by the New York architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings in the Second Renaissance Revival style and inspired by St Mark's Basilica in Venice, the church was built utilizing a novel construction technique pioneered by Franklin W. Smith, builder of the Villa Zorayda. This building method, utilizing poured concrete mixed with crushed coquina stone, was utilized in Smith's Casa Monica Hotel, as well as in Flagler's Ponce de Leon Hotel and Alcazar Hotel. Upon Flagler's death in 1913 he was interred in a marble mausoleum within the church beside his daughter Jennie Louise and her infant Marjorie, as well as his first wife Mary Harkness Flagler.

Featured in the Florida - Images of the Sunshine State January 2018 and the Artistic Aperture group May 2020.

Uploaded

January 6th, 2018