Downtown in Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Sacred Heart Church

Established 1860

— Oldest Catholic Church on Florida's West Coast —

Sacred Heart Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Fr. Len Plazewski, September 29, 2010

1. Sacred Heart Church Marker

Inscription. In 1859 a small wood framed church was erected on this spot. The following year it was blessed and named St. Louis Church to honor Fr. Luis de Cancer, a Dominican missionary who was martyred on the shores of Tampa Bay in 1549. When the yellow fever epidemic of 1887-88 took the lives of three resident priests, Bishop Moore of St. Augustine asked the New Orleans Jesuits to care for the parish. During their time here, they established Jesuit High School (1899), ministered to much of south Florida and built the present landmark church. Ground was broken in 1898 and this magnificent Romanesque structure, to be named Sacred Hart, was dedicated seven years later on January 15, 1905. The Jesuits would go on to serve the parish for 115 years until 2005, when pastoral care of this historic gem was given to the Franciscans.

Erected 2010 by Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1887.

Location. 27° 56.961′ N, 82° 27.443′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of North Florida Avenue (U.S. 41) and East Twiggs Street when traveling east on North Florida Avenue. Marker is affixed to the

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facade of Sacred Heart Church in downtown Tampa. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 509 North Florida Avenue, Tampa FL 33602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Federal Building (within shouting distance of this marker); First Lt. Baldomero Lopez (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Courthouse Square (about 400 feet away); WDAE-Florida's First Radio Station (about 500 feet away); John And Ellen Jackson: Tampa Pioneers (about 500 feet away); Teco Energy's Tampa Electric Company (about 600 feet away); John F. Kennedy in Tampa (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

Another marker is no longer nearby. WDAE ---Florida's First Radio Station (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Fr. Len Plazewski, September 29, 2010

2. Sacred Heart Church Marker

Sacred Heart Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Fr. Len Plazewski, January 13, 2010

3. Sacred Heart Church

Sacred Heart Church (Interior) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Fr. Len Plazewski, January 13, 2010

4. Sacred Heart Church (Interior)

Sacred Heart Church (side view) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Fr. Len Plazewski, January 13, 2010

5. Sacred Heart Church (side view)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2010. This page has been viewed 1,607 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 28, 2010, by Fr. Len Plazewski of Tampa, Florida. 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 4, 2010, by Fr. Len Plazewski of Tampa, Florida. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.