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Aside from the fact that The Congregation of the Church of St. Philip was the area's first African American Episcopal Church, its place in our history is just as guaranteed by the fact that St. Philips was designed by one of Jacksonville's early women architects, Henrietta Dozier.
Henrietta was one of the city's most colorful pioneers and you can find a fascinating interview with her during her lifetime at Jaxhistory: http://www.jaxhistory.com/Dozier.html
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Born in Fernandina Beach, Henrietta C. Dozier graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1899 with an advanced degree in architecture.
She was one of only three women in the class of 176 students, and she was the only one to graduate.
After working in Atlanta for thirteen years, she moved her practice to Jacksonville in 1914 where she became the City's first and foremost woman architect. In 1903, Henrietta C. Dozier designed the All Saints Episcopal Chapel in Atlanta. Her favorite commission, this small chapel was later damaged by fire and incorporated into a larger structure.
While still in Atlanta, Henrietta C. Dozier was responsible for the design of Saint Philips Episcopal Church which was constructed around 1903 at 801 North Pearl Street in Downtown Jacksonville.
Some of the more noted buildings designed by Henrietta C. Dozier in Jacksonville include the Old Federal Reserve Bank Building (1923 - 1924 in association with Atlanta architect, A. Ten Eyck Brown), Lampru Court Apartments (1924), and residences at 1819 Goodwin Street, 2215 River Boulevard and 1814 Powell Place. Henrietta C. Dozier was a devout member of the Church of the Good Shepherd.
She was one of only three women in the class of 176 students, and she was the only one to graduate.
After working in Atlanta for thirteen years, she moved her practice to Jacksonville in 1914 where she became the City's first and foremost woman architect. In 1903, Henrietta C. Dozier designed the All Saints Episcopal Chapel in Atlanta. Her favorite commission, this small chapel was later damaged by fire and incorporated into a larger structure.
While still in Atlanta, Henrietta C. Dozier was responsible for the design of Saint Philips Episcopal Church which was constructed around 1903 at 801 North Pearl Street in Downtown Jacksonville.
Some of the more noted buildings designed by Henrietta C. Dozier in Jacksonville include the Old Federal Reserve Bank Building (1923 - 1924 in association with Atlanta architect, A. Ten Eyck Brown), Lampru Court Apartments (1924), and residences at 1819 Goodwin Street, 2215 River Boulevard and 1814 Powell Place. Henrietta C. Dozier was a devout member of the Church of the Good Shepherd.
The Episcopal Church has a brilliant web exhibit that chronicles the emergence and growth of Black Episcopal Churches, and it is definitely worth a visit to see and understand the struggle and triumph that is represented by the progress of these flocks over the past 140 years. St. Philips was one of the earliest built and with one of the largest historical congregations. It was far and away the largest in the area. You can see St. Philips mentioned in the exhibit several times, for more information check it out: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/Afro-Anglican_history/exhibit/index.php
About 1872, the Rev. Brook G. White, an inspired catalyst, and the Rt. Rev. John Freeman Young, Bishop of the Diocese of Florida, organized and established a mission to serve the Black population. This mission became St. Philip's Episcopal Church. With donations from the community, property was purchased at the corner of Union and Cedar (now Pearl) Streets, and a small frame church was erected. A rectory was also constructed with funds given by the wife of Fr. White.
Wikipedia has the following information about Freeman Young:
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Reverend John Freeman Young (Oct. 30, 1820-Nov. 15, 1885), translator of the Christmas hymn, "Silent Night" became the second bishop of Florida in 1867. He had earlier served as an ecumenical envoy to the Russian Orthodox Church. The reconstruction was a hardship to the people, as well as the church. Growth was slow but promising. Bishop Young visited parishes throughout the state, but he saw most churches once each year. A trip from Jacksonville to Key West might take a month or more. Bishop Young reported "eleven churches built or in progress in one year" in 1880. He died five years later. During his service as a bishop, he established parishes for Cubans living in Florida and for Blacks, many of whom had come to Florida from Anglican parishes in the Caribbean. At the time of his death, he was working on a Spanish translation of the Book of Common Prayer
Initially, St. John's Church supported the mission providing priests and lay readers for the services. To enhance the growth of the mission, a kindergarten was started in the rectory. This school attracted students from families throughout the city. Increased membership created a need for a larger church. The smaller church was "moved" from the corner to allow for the larger structure. On November 22, 1900, The Rt. Rev. Edwin G. Weed laid the cornerstone for a larger facility. The original frame church was moved back to allow construction of the new church in the original consecrated landmark.
On Edwin Weed:
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Reverend Edwin Gardener Weed was elected as the third Bishop of the Diocese of Florida in 1886.
As Florida continued to grow, and became obvious that the state needed to be split into two dioceses. The southern boundary of the diocese included Levy, Alachua, Putnam & St. Johns counties.
When the change was approved in 1892, the Missionary Jurisdiction of Southern Florida was created. After the split, the Diocese of Florida contained 43 [Mission (Christian)|missions]] and 13 parishes, but fewer than 3,000 members.
Bishop Weed decided that Jacksonville should be the seat of the diocese because transportation was more readily available, so he moved the Episcopal residence from St. Augustine by 1895. Severe freezes in 1896 & 1897 destroyed most of the citrus industry in North Florida and the Great Fire of 1901 in Jacksonville left the diocese broke. The following year, however, all parishes and missions made their Diocesan payments in full. There were more than 50 parishes and missions in 1906, served by 33 clergy. The Woman's Auxiliary gained importance and became a major source of funds during the early 1900's. Their efforts helped keep many churches from closing their doors. Bishop Weed died in 1924.
As Florida continued to grow, and became obvious that the state needed to be split into two dioceses. The southern boundary of the diocese included Levy, Alachua, Putnam & St. Johns counties.
When the change was approved in 1892, the Missionary Jurisdiction of Southern Florida was created. After the split, the Diocese of Florida contained 43 [Mission (Christian)|missions]] and 13 parishes, but fewer than 3,000 members.
Bishop Weed decided that Jacksonville should be the seat of the diocese because transportation was more readily available, so he moved the Episcopal residence from St. Augustine by 1895. Severe freezes in 1896 & 1897 destroyed most of the citrus industry in North Florida and the Great Fire of 1901 in Jacksonville left the diocese broke. The following year, however, all parishes and missions made their Diocesan payments in full. There were more than 50 parishes and missions in 1906, served by 33 clergy. The Woman's Auxiliary gained importance and became a major source of funds during the early 1900's. Their efforts helped keep many churches from closing their doors. Bishop Weed died in 1924.
On May 3, 1901 the wooden frame church and the rectory were destroyed in the Jacksonville fire. A parishioner, Mamie Ewart Port, who lived nearby, rushed to the church and retrieved several of the brass pieces and communion vessels, some of which are in use today. The fire brought the St. Philip's building project to an abrupt standstill. As the city recovered, so did St. Philip's. It took several years to rebuild the church because of the "pay-as-you-go" plan the members chose. The sanctuary reflects the late Gothic Revival style which was the most popular religious architecture at the turn of the century. Five years after the fire, on July 29, 1906, Bishop Weed preached in the new and rebuilt St. Philip's Church. Services began in the present structure with no windows, pews or electricity. Straight chairs were used for seating, lamplights for seeing, and a pot bellied wood stove for heating.
By 1917, the altar was rebuilt, the chancel furnished, vesting rooms added, gas heating installed, and a pipe organ was purchased. In the early 1950's the church was rewired. Kitchen equipment was installed in the basement, which was the center of parish fellowship and Christian Education activities. The parish auditorium and classrooms were constructed in the early 1960's.
In 1926, with The Rev. Willoughby M. Parchment as the assigned priest, the St. Philip's Mission applied for and received status as an independent parish. However, during the financial hardship of the depression, the parish reverted to a mission and was served by several priests. The Rev. Toussaaint Vincent Harris came to the mission in 1953 and parish status was regained in 1960. It was during Fr. Harris' tenure that the Advent Corporate Communion and Breakfast was initiated as an annual event. Fr. Harris also organized the Bishop Delaney Guild, for women's ministries.
The rich legacy of St. Philip's Episcopal Church and her members continues to inspire the hearts of the community in downtown Jacksonville. Since 1882 the consecrated landmark has been a nucleus where worshippers aspire to become a fellowship of servants of Jesus Christ in sharing God's love through sacraments, worship, education, evangelism, and pastoral care.
--Stephen Dare---
Check out the church at the annual DVI Downtown Historic Church Tour 2009
http://www.downtownjacksonville.org/church-tour
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Wacca Pilatka
November 17, 2009, 05:09:33 PMThank you for posting this fascinating history. I didn't even know that Henrietta Dozier was the architect.
stephendare
November 17, 2009, 05:12:18 PMNor did I Wacca! And what a fascinating tale the church has had.
According to some of the folk History, Freeman Young was preaching a sermon to some recalcitrant catholics and scattered heathens in south florida when he was momentarily interrupted as a result of being attacked by a giant man eating alligator. Freeman wrestled and dispatched the Alligator as the people assembled watched the incident unfold and subsequently finished his sermon and converted all present.
stephendare
November 17, 2009, 06:44:58 PMBy the way, this will be on the Historic Church Tour this year.
coredumped
November 17, 2009, 10:35:58 PMI'm very excited for the church tour. I wouldn't have known about it if it weren't for the banner running across this site - good job!
thelakelander
November 18, 2009, 12:16:51 AMHere are some extra images from Metro Jacksonville's 2007 DT historic church tour.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-dec-downtown-historic-church-tour
GideonGlib
November 18, 2009, 02:21:21 PMIf nothing else, we Episcopalians are good at building pretty churches. Good article.
stephendare
November 18, 2009, 03:30:06 PMIm still taken aback at Freeman Young.
Can you imagine trying to make a speech/presentation/sermon only to have it interrupted by one of these monsters? And then to have the iron constitution necessary to vanquish the beast and still finish strongly in front of a group of recent skeptics?
chris farley
November 18, 2009, 04:51:59 PMJohn Freeman Young interests me. He was made Bishop of Florida in 1867 and immediately when he arrived here from New York he started on a plan to build small rural churches. He was a disciple of Richard Upjohn, an Englishman who came to America c 1833. Upjohn was hired to restore Trinity Church in lower Manhattan but in the end the church was razed and he designed a new one = the current one. Young came to know of Upjohn when he was attached to Trinity. Upjohn’s Carpenter Gothic Church style was used by Young and he built or caused to be built 17 of them. There are books on this style including one telling the story of the 17 (one stands in Fletcher park now) it is entitled St. Dunstan’s and St. John.
Young and his wife are buried in the Old City Cemetery. Emily Lisska of the JHS had them restored at her own expense. There is a web by Bill Egan (of West Palm Beach I believe) which tells the story of Young - it states:
Egan also noted that while the graves of Mohr and Gruber are the site of annual Christmas services, the grave of Bishop Young is virtually unvisited. He wrote "While Christmas pilgrims flock to the well-kept graves of Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber, the Austrian originators of the world's best-loved carol, Bishop Young's final resting place has been neglected and ignored by people in Jacksonville and the Episcopal Church."
He added that for the past two years, greens were placed on Young's monument in Jacksonville during the Christmas season by a representative of the Silent Night Society of Salzburg, Austria. End quote
So last year a group of us led by Shannon Palmer and including Egan went to Young’s grave to sing Silent Night and other carols. Egan - with guitar- sang it as it was originally done.
There was a small Mission built on Hubbard Street in 1886, it became part of a house, we tried to save it last year. The congregation left this Mission (a St. John's Sunday School originally) and built their new church at 9th and Laura. This is the last known small church built inUpjohns's Gothic style. The author of St. Dunstan's and St John was at the carol sing last year but he is disappointed at what has been done to the interior of St. Marys
stephendare
November 18, 2009, 05:00:45 PMHe was apparently quite the figure, Chris. Full of passion and daring.
And a smart man. He relocated the mission to jacksonville because of the availablity of Trasportation.
Wacca Pilatka
November 18, 2009, 05:07:40 PMYoung and his wife are buried in the Old City Cemetery. Emily Lisska of the JHS had them restored at her own expense. There is a web by Bill Egan (of West Palm Beach I believe) which tells the story of Young - it states:
Egan also noted that while the graves of Mohr and Gruber are the site of annual Christmas services, the grave of Bishop Young is virtually unvisited. He wrote "While Christmas pilgrims flock to the well-kept graves of Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber, the Austrian originators of the world's best-loved carol, Bishop Young's final resting place has been neglected and ignored by people in Jacksonville and the Episcopal Church."
He added that for the past two years, greens were placed on Young's monument in Jacksonville during the Christmas season by a representative of the Silent Night Society of Salzburg, Austria. End quote
So last year a group of us led by Shannon Palmer and including Egan went to Young’s grave to sing Silent Night and other carols. Egan - with guitar- sang it as it was originally done.
There was a small Mission built on Hubbard Street in 1886, it became part of a house, we tried to save it last year. The congregation left this Mission (a St. John's Sunday School originally) and built their new church at 9th and Laura. This is the last known small church built inUpjohns's Gothic style. The author of St. Dunstan's and St John was at the carol sing last year but he is disappointed at what has been done to the interior of St. Marys
Thank you for all this information. This is amazing to read.
stephendare
November 18, 2009, 05:35:45 PMhttp://nfmhof.com/2008/12/15/young-john-freeman/
stephendare
November 18, 2009, 05:38:23 PMhttp://www.diocesefl.org/index.php?mod=customPage&id_pcon=21
stephendare
November 18, 2009, 05:40:25 PMFor further readings about Freeman Young, you can also read a collection of his letters here: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/y/Young,John_Freeman.html
Omarvelous09
November 18, 2009, 07:00:19 PMGood article. My Mother's family has attended St. Philips since the 20's...and its good to see someone recognize it's importance.
chris farley
November 18, 2009, 09:07:31 PMSorry the book title is St. Dinstans & John, by Charles Pattillo. He is a member of St John's Cathedral
Ocklawaha
November 18, 2009, 09:53:35 PMAnother interesting story from the Episcopal folks in Florida. During the war of Yankee aggression John J. Dickison raised a company of cavalry for the Confederacy. Based in Waldo, the 2ND Florida became distinguished in battle and later as a legend of the State of Florida and of the War. "Dixie," as he was called by the Yankees, was from Connecticut. At the battle of Braddocks Farm (Volusia County), Dixie's boys jumped a Federal raiding party's wagon train. The Federals were no match for the Swampers and quickly surrendered. Dickison, heard the sound of fast approaching horses and he wheeled around to see the Federal commander, one Col. Wilcoxon, bearing down on him with pistol drawn and in a full charge.
Capt. J.J. Dickison heard of these raids and set out to end them. With approximately 50 men, he caught up with Wilcoxson and the 17th CT Infantry as they were leaving Braddock's farm with ten wagons loaded with Cotton and other confiscated items. Dickison's troops caught the 17th CT off guard, and a quick, but decisive battle ensued. When Wilcoxson realized he was under attack, he drew is pistol and began firing from horseback. When his bullets were exhausted, he drew his sword and charged Capt. Dickison. Dickison drew his pistol and shot Wilcoxson from his horse. This brief, but fiery skirmish resulted in no Confederate casualties, but the Union lost four men. After the fight, Dickison approached Wilcoxson, lying on the ground, and asked why he had charged. Wilcoxson simply said, "Don't blame yourself, you are only doing your duty as a soldier. I alone am to blame". Approximately eight Federals escaped into the swamps and made it back to St. Augustine. All others were taken prisoner.
After the battle, Wilcoxson's widow wrote to Capt. Dickison. She told him that her husband's captured sword was a gift to him from his Masonic Lodge in Norwalk, CT. She asked that it be returned to her so that she could present it to the Lodge. Capt. Dickison, also a Mason, obliged her and told her that it was being returned, "on account of the feelings I entertained for your husband as a brave officer." The sword is still in the possession of Wilcoxson's Lodge.
It was also learned that both men, Episcopals, had attended the same church and lodge meetings, then met on opposing sides in a ferice firefight in the jungles of Volusia County. Both had funeral services at the church and Dickison was buried at Evergreen Cemetery. His funeral procession was the longest in the history of Florida, stretching for 15 miles.
Those interested in visiting the site, there is a historic marker, I wrote the text and organized a Corporation to save and mark this and several other little known sites. For this and other sites see:
http://www.fcphs.com/Battle_of_Braddocks_Farm.htm
OCKLAWAHA
chris farley
November 18, 2009, 10:27:10 PMHas the Pilot Club ever covered Dickison's grave in their tours?
Ocklawaha
November 18, 2009, 11:31:29 PMDon't know Chris, but I'm sure... No CERTAIN, that if they go into Evergreen then YES they'll include the old hero also known as "The Swamp Fox of the Confederacy". His other nickname was a play on his name Dickison = DIXIE, and EVERYTHING WEST OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER was well known as DIXIELAND! Only federal war ship ever sunk by a company of calvary... Dickison. Last Confederate victory in Florida... Dickison. Confederate officials smuggled to Cuba... Dickison. I also suspect he had a hand in the Maple Leaf, General Hunter and Harriet Weed's sinkings also.
His legend was so well known, that when the Yankee's made their great raid into "Dixieland" with a vastly superior force, Dickison cut them to ribbons in The Battle of Gainesville. Later he personally rode down the commander of the Ohio Calvary, a large red haired Irishman known to his men as "The Red Fox". Dickison tackled him from the saddle and into a marsh on the riverbank, having chased him/them all the way from Gainesville. As he crashed down on the terrified Yankee he asked "How is it that the Swamp Fox should catch the Red Fox?"
OCKLAWAHA
chris farley
November 19, 2009, 10:21:01 AMSince working on the monument in Confederate park - the Tribute to the Women of the Southern Confederacy, I have become fascinated with the stories of that terrble war. You tell amazing stories,.There is a song sung in England at Christmas time about brother fighting brother. I have to find out the title of it. I am going to talk to Louise Warren about this "Dixie" grave. This year I know the Pilot Club is doing the western part of Evergreen in an area where no one died a natural death. I will let you know what I hear from her.
I am going to go to Evergreen and find his grave for myself.It is amazing to me that a Yankee sculptor was chosen for the monument, but it was done so because he Newman was the absolute best there was and they wanted the best. That monument has to be one of the most beautiful in America.