Near Elkton in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
St. Ambrose Parish
Photographed By Theresa E. Cross, February 26, 2017
1. St. Ambrose Parish Marker
Inscription.
St. Ambrose Parish. . The intact buildings and grounds of St. Ambrose Parish reflect the commitment of the Roman Catholic Church to reach small rural communities in Florida. Catholic Mass was first celebrated with settlers in a barn here at Moccasin Branch in the early 1800s. In 1875, St. Ambrose Parish was established when a small wood frame church was built by Father Stephen Langlade. Father Langlade was a skilled carpenter from France who also built a rectory, school, convent, and a larger church by 1907. A second convent was built after the first one burned in 1917, and a new parish hall was built in 1938. Students attended the school from 1881 through 1948 under the tutelage of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who lived in the convent. The early settlers of the area were farmers of Spanish, Irish, Minorcan, Greek, and Italian heritage. Their descendants, with names such as Ashton, Floyd, Lopez, Masters, Ortagus, Pacetti, Pappy, Pellicer, Rogero, Sanchez, Solana, Solano, Triay, Weedman, and others, continue to live in the area and attend the small parish church. The pioneers whose daily lives were intertwined with St. Ambrose Parish are buried in the cemetery nearby.
The intact buildings and grounds of St. Ambrose Parish reflect the commitment of the Roman Catholic Church to reach small rural communities in Florida. Catholic Mass was first celebrated with settlers in a barn here at Moccasin Branch in the early 1800s. In 1875, St. Ambrose Parish was established when a small wood frame church was built by Father Stephen Langlade. Father Langlade was a skilled carpenter from France who also built a rectory, school, convent, and a larger church by 1907. A second convent was built after the first one burned in 1917, and a new parish hall was built in 1938. Students attended the school from 1881 through 1948 under the tutelage of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who lived in the convent. The early settlers of the area were farmers of Spanish, Irish, Minorcan, Greek, and Italian heritage. Their descendants, with names such as Ashton, Floyd, Lopez, Masters, Ortagus, Pacetti, Pappy, Pellicer, Rogero, Sanchez, Solana, Solano, Triay, Weedman, and others, continue to live in the area and attend the small parish church. The pioneers whose daily lives were intertwined with St. Ambrose Parish are buried in the cemetery nearby.
Erected 2004 by The St. Johns County Board of Supervisors and The Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-512.)
Location. 29° 46.667′ N, 81° 28.304′ W. Marker is near Elkton, Florida, in St. Johns County. Marker is on Church Road, 0.3 miles east of Winfred Masters Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6070 Church Rd, Elkton FL 32033, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Theresa E. Cross, February 26, 2017
2. St. Ambrose Parish Marker
Photographed By Theresa E. Cross, February 26, 2017
3. St. Ambrose Catholic Church Marker
Photographed By Theresa E. Cross, February 26, 2017
4. St. Ambrose Parish Marker
Photographed By Theresa E. Cross, February 26, 2017
5. St. Ambrose Catholic Church
Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 27, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 583 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 27, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
