Swampy’s #Florida #Sunday Services: St. Mary of the Nativity, Maitland, built in 1881.
on July 26, 2020
at 6:11 am
The Roman Catholic St. Marys of the Nativity was built by a fellow from Philadelphia who was very active for a short time building up areas in Orange County. The fellow, James Wilcox, built this church as the first built of the Diocese of Orlando. Wilcox was not one to keep property and in this case he deeded the property to Bishop John Moore. That’s the same Bishop Moore who has a school named after him in Orlando.
I am curious to know more about St Mary’s of the Nativity Catholic Church in Maitland. The post says it was the first built in the Diocese of Orlando. The Diocese of Orlando was established in 1968. Previously this area was within the diocese of St. Augustine, which was established in 1870. Since it is rare that a catholic church/parish just disappears. Is there any other information about this structure? or “St Mary’s of the Nativity”?
Amy!
Two years ago, when I posted this, for some reason i didn’t reference which book this photo came from. I work hard to make sure I do that and dropped the ball. I’m pretty sure it is from one of the 1000s of books in my Florida library. Likely in the Orange County section or in one of the books I have of the Catholic Church in Florida. I don’t recall the details of the Maitland church shown. I’ll have to track this down and reply later.
I do know that the work of Bishop Moore and so many others established Catholic churches along a circuit that ran into Orlando. I may have confused something there.
It’s James Wilcox I know A lot about. I stumbled across him around 2000 or so and learned so much about this fellow who suddenly appeared and just as suddenly disappeared after helping start Eatonville, a start to a city with his name, giving land for, what is now, the Central Florida Fair, etc, etc. Wish i could learn more about him!
I am swamped working on four Swampy books right now and hope to answer you soon. Feel free to bug me to remind me to answer. 🙂
– Rob Smith, Jr.