Downtown Historic Church Tour 2009!

[stephendare]

Downtown Vision, Inc. is pleased to present the third annual Downtown Historic Church Tour. Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 5, 2009, from 1-5 p.m. to tour a century of sanctuaries in one afternoon. 

Begin at the Main Library and stroll through the streets of Downtown with family and friends and explore. 

Church staff will be available at each of the ten historic churches to share the architectural and historical highlights on this self-guided tour. While several churches are within walking distance, trolley service is provided along the tour route, and is included in the ticket price.
2009 Downtown Historic Church Tour includes:

Main Library
303 N. Laura St.
Bethel Baptist Institutional Church
215 Bethel Baptist St.
Faith United Church of the Living God, Inc. Greater Hill Temple
825 W. Monroe St.
First Baptist Church
124 W. Ashley St.
First Presbyterian Church
118 E. Monroe St.
First United Methodist Church
225 E. Duval St.
Historic Mt. Zion AME Church
201 E. Beaver St.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
121 E. Duval St.
Old St. Andrews, with Emily Lisska, Jacksonville Historical Society
317 A Philip Randolph Blvd
St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral
256 E. Church St.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
321 W. Union St.
Additional tour highlights:

    * Dr. Wayne Wood's 30 minute slide show on Downtown Jacksonville's history (location and time TBA)
    * On the tour, members of MetroJacksonville editorial staff and contributors will share their knowledge of Downtown Jacksonville.
    * The Junior League of Jacksonville's Annual Festival of Trees will be on display at the Main Library.
    * Tour ticket includes admission to the Rotary Gingerbread House Extravaganza at Old St. Andrews for that day only.

* Please note, this is an annual Downtown tradition. There is much to see on the tour and it is not designed for visitors to be able to see everything in one day. We recommend visitors select several highlights of interest and plan to come back next year. Photographers are welcome. Check back here for a tour map with details mid-November.
Tickets

Tour tickets are $5 per person. Children 12 and under are admitted at no charge. Twenty percent of all ticket sales will benefit the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition. We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance below through Pay Pal. Tickets are also available for purchase the day of the event at the Main Library (cash-only).

[sandyshoes]

I'm so    to see this again...last year was the first time we could go, and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing all these downtown "jewels".  Thank you for the heads-up. 

[Wacca Pilatka]

I'm still trying to figure out what weekend I can come to Jacksonville in December (depends on which Jaguar game my buddy can make it to with me)--I hope it's that one!  Thanks for the info, Stephen.

[stephendare]

No problem!

And this year there will be an added bonus! 

Ock and I (and maybe lake) are volunteering to help out guide tours.  Ock will be taking up a perch on the trolleys---and of course, Emily Lisska is a don't miss whenever she speaks.

There may be a few surprises!

[Wacca Pilatka]

Meeting Emily Lisska, Wayne Wood, Ock, Lake, and Stephen Dare in one day--that is like my Mount Rushmore of celebrities.  Seriously. 

[Lunican]

Here are the photos from the 2007 Downtown Church Tour:
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-dec-downtown-historic-church-tour

[stephendare]

I see that Downtown Vision started listing us for the tour.

This is going to be a lot of fun.  Ocklawaha has plans for this trolley ride that should make them memorable for everyone.

http://www.downtownjacksonville.org/church-tour

[stephendare]

Here is a video of the tour promo.
The creator of the video, curiously had disabled embedding, which seems kind of counter productive since its meant to be a promotional piece for the event.....but whatever.  Check the video out by clicking through to Youtube.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/FmaYxQmsEDE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/FmaYxQmsEDE</a>

[fsu813]

I went last year, a good way to spend a few hours....very informative.

[Lunican]

Downtown Vision, Inc. is pleased to present the third annual Downtown Historic Church Tour. Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 5, 2009, from 1-5 p.m. to tour a century of sanctuaries in one afternoon.  Begin at the Main Library and stroll through the streets of Downtown with family and friends and explore.  Church staff will be available at each of the ten historic churches to share the architectural and historical highlights on this self-guided tour. While several churches are within walking distance, trolley service is provided along the tour route, and is included in the ticket price.

http://www.downtownjacksonville.org/church-tour/

[Reaper man]

I'd do it, but I think I'd spontaneously burst into flames. ;p

[sandyshoes]

If you do maybe somebody will douse you with holy water     Word to the wise - last year, Immaculate Conception sold lunch (grilled burgers/dogs that smelled divine!) outside in their fenced-in courtyard.  Overall, it's a wonderful, wonderful event, but I can't do the walking anymore.  I sure hate to miss out on it. 

[chris farley]

Downtown Vision is really in need of volunteers to help with the church tour on Saturday.  If you can help will you call Tasha Tucker 699 5319. Volunteer hours are from 11.30 to 2.30 and 2.30 to 5.30, or both shifts if you can manage it.

[zoo]

A great kick-off to holiday season is a combined Church/Home Tour -- Springfield's Annual Holiday Home Tour is Dec. 4-5 in Historic Springfield, and begins at 4:30 p.m. on Sat.

(below from whatsupjacksonville.com)

"The streets of Historic Springfield and many of the neighborhood’s most beautiful homes will be elaborately decorated in holiday style for the Springfield Woman’s Club’s 23rd annual Holiday Home Tour on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5.The tour begins at the corner of Third and Main streets in Springfield. Buses leave every 15 minutes from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.



The tour will feature eight wonderful homes and three condominium residences. Guests will enjoy wine, treats and festivities at the beautiful new building at Third and Main, one of the commercial projects recently completed by the Cesery Companies and SRG Homes & Neighborhoods. The guided tour will include a stop at the Springfield Woman’s Club, where guest will enjoy its famous holiday cookies and wassail.

Tickets for the Holiday Home Tour are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at www.springfieldwomansclub.org or by phone at (904) 633-9308."

[chris farley]

Sandyshoes the brown area of the map is the walkable portion and there are beautiful churches there.