
Henry Flagler is well known in Florida as having brought the railroad to the state in the 19th century. But today, one of his lasting legacies is Memorial Presbyterian church in St. Augustine, Florida. Flagler was a partner with John D. Rockefeller in the Standard Oil Company. Using some of that wealth, he built resort hotels and railways down the Atlantic coast of Florida to the Keys. In 1889, this church was built as a memorial to his daughter who died in childbirth. Henry Flagler and his first wife are entombed next to them in a mausoleum inside.
Because of his resources in the construction trade, the massive church was finished in a little more than a year. The church itself is a mix of styles, including a latin cross-shaped sanctuary after St. Mark’s in Venice. Italy also inspired the copper roof and marble floors, and they are joined with Spanish, Moorish, and Baroque influences as well. Most recently, the copper dome was restored after being partially damaged from a 2017 hurricane. An old online pamphlet about the church is located on the U.F. website







