Grace United Methodist Church- St. Augustine, FL

As previous discussed, St. Augustine flourished during The Gilded Age. While opulent hotels and casinos were constructed to attract rich and famous vacationers, equally fabulous spiritual structures were bankrolled by the same tycoons, resulting in an architecturally outstanding collection of churches scattered around town. As usual, Carrère and Hastings are responsible for some of the most impressive, including Grace United Methodist Church.

The church’s origin is tangled up with Henry Flagler’s other Carrère commissions Alcazar Hotel and Hotel Ponce de Leon. Following his wild success at the Ponce, Flagler sought to expand his hospitality empire with an adjacent hotel. Unfortunately, the land across from the Ponce was already occupied by Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church, built just a few years prior. Not to be deterred, he made them an offer they could not refuse.

In exchange for their land, Flagler offered them an adjacent plot, as well as construction costs for a new church and parsonage designed by Carrere and Hastings. Which seems like a pretty sweet deal. Construction of the poured concrete Spanish Renaissance Revival church began in 1886, and featured a red Spanish tile roof and elaborate terracotta designs on the door surrounds and the tower.

Inside, the sanctuary featured Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows, as well as exquisite woodwork, including graceful arches and a vaulted ceiling. Completed in 1887 for a cost of $85,000, Grace United remains one of the most stunning gems in St. Augustine’s impressive Gilded Age collection.