The old chapel is among the 5 oldest wooden churches still standing and in use in Florida.
Margaret Fleming financed the building of this church. She died shortly before its completion in 1878 and the first service in it was her funeral, just before the construction was completed.
Her Father-in-Law, George Fleming (1760–1821) immigrated from Ireland and settled in the late 18th century on what is now referred to as Fleming Island,[4] just south of Orange Park and Jacksonville, FL. (And across the St. Johns River from the Bartram Trail). He and his wife (Sophia Fatio) tended orange groves and other crops on their plantation. George Fleming named his island plantation Hibernia,[5] the Latin word for Ireland, in honor of his island home country. The 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) island property was gained by a land grant from the Spanish.
The land had previously been cleared and planted, but had been abandoned. The property was on the west bank of the St. Johns River and was therefore in what was called “Indian Florida”. Land to the east of the river was called “Spanish Florida”.
George Fleming's grave is the oldest grave recorded in the church cemetery.
The elder Fleming left the plantation to his son Lewis. Lewis married Augustina Cortes, descendant of Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes. Augustina died during childbirth in 1832 leaving Lewis alone to raise their three children.
Lewis married Margaret Seton in 1837. She was a devout Episcopalian. They built a plantation home in 1845 that became known as the "Great House" (previous homes had been burned by local Indians).
After Lewis' death in 1862, Margaret was the overseer of the plantation. During the civil war, Union Officer Guy Henry forced Margaret and the children to vacate the "Great House". After the war, Margaret returned to the Great House and continued to oversee the plantation. To supplement revenues for the suffering plantation, Margaret opened her home as a bed and breakfast to the tourists that traveled the St. Johns River.
Margaret would educate and teach scripture to her slaves and plantation workers in the sitting room of the Great House. As her congregation grew, Margaret needed more space, thus began construction of the chapel in 1875.
Margaret died in 1878 just before the chapel was complete. The first ceremony held in the yet unfinished chapel was Margaret's funeral service. In 1880, the church was moved to its current location, only a few feet from where Lewis and Margaret are buried.
Closure and current use (2012-present)edit
In 2005, St. Margaret's Parish dedicated a new 450-seat church building near the old building. Due to changes in church leadership and a steadily declining membership, St. Margaret's Church closed its doors in the Spring of 2012. The chapel can now be toured and the main church is being leased by First Assembly of God Fleming Island.[6]
^"St Margarets Episcopal Church and Cemetery - Fleming Island, FL (Address and Phone)". www.countyoffice.org. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
^Taylor, George (December 31, 2008). "St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and Cemetary 1, Hibernia, FL". George Lansing Taylor Collection Main Gallery.
^"Living in Fleming Island". Niche. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
^"Hibernia Pub". www.flemingislandgolfclub.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
^"National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. July 9, 2010.
External linksedit
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church Hibernia website
List of burials in St. Margaret;s Cemetery
Clay County listings at National Register of Historic Places
Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
Clay County markers
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and Cemetery
February 15, 2024
margaret, episcopal, church, cemetery, historic, carpenter, gothic, church, cemetery, located, 6874, church, road, hibernia, fleming, island, near, green, cove, springs, florida, united, states, june, 1973, church, cemetery, which, also, known, hibernia, cemet. St Margaret s Episcopal Church and Cemetery is a historic Carpenter Gothic church and cemetery 2 located at 6874 Old Church Road in Hibernia on Fleming Island near Green Cove Springs Florida in the United States On June 4 1973 the church and its cemetery which is also known as the Hibernia Cemetery 3 were added to the National Register of Historic Places St Margaret s Episcopal Church and CemeteryU S National Register of Historic PlacesSt Margaret s completed in 1878 moved to present location in 1880Show map of FloridaShow map of the United StatesLocation6874 Old Church Road Hibernia Green Cove Springs FloridaCoordinates30 4 2 N 81 41 48 W 30 06722 N 81 69667 W 30 06722 81 69667Area1 1 acres 0 45 ha Built1875 1878Architectural styleCarpenter GothicNRHP reference No 73000570 1 Added to NRHPJune 4 1973View from side Contents 1 National Register listing 2 History 3 Closure and current use 2012 present 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksNational Register listing editSt Margaret s Episcopal Church and Cemetery added 1973 Building 73000570 Also known as FMSF CL22 Hibernia Cemetery FMSF CL531 6874 Old Church Rd Hibernia Historic Significance Event Architecture Engineering Architect builder or engineer Unknown Architectural Style Late Gothic Revival Area of Significance Exploration Settlement Architecture Art Period of Significance 1800 1824 1825 1849 1850 1874 1875 1899 1900 1924 1925 1949 Owner Private Historic Function Funerary Religion Historic Sub function Cemetery Religious Structure Current Function Funerary Religion Current Sub function Cemetery Religious StructureHistory editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Two older headstonesThe old chapel is among the 5 oldest wooden churches still standing and in use in Florida Margaret Fleming financed the building of this church She died shortly before its completion in 1878 and the first service in it was her funeral just before the construction was completed Her Father in Law George Fleming 1760 1821 immigrated from Ireland and settled in the late 18th century on what is now referred to as Fleming Island 4 just south of Orange Park and Jacksonville FL And across the St Johns River from the Bartram Trail He and his wife Sophia Fatio tended orange groves and other crops on their plantation George Fleming named his island plantation Hibernia 5 the Latin word for Ireland in honor of his island home country The 1 000 acre 4 0 km2 island property was gained by a land grant from the Spanish The land had previously been cleared and planted but had been abandoned The property was on the west bank of the St Johns River and was therefore in what was called Indian Florida Land to the east of the river was called Spanish Florida George Fleming s grave is the oldest grave recorded in the church cemetery The elder Fleming left the plantation to his son Lewis Lewis married Augustina Cortes descendant of Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes Augustina died during childbirth in 1832 leaving Lewis alone to raise their three children Lewis married Margaret Seton in 1837 She was a devout Episcopalian They built a plantation home in 1845 that became known as the Great House previous homes had been burned by local Indians After Lewis death in 1862 Margaret was the overseer of the plantation During the civil war Union Officer Guy Henry forced Margaret and the children to vacate the Great House After the war Margaret returned to the Great House and continued to oversee the plantation To supplement revenues for the suffering plantation Margaret opened her home as a bed and breakfast to the tourists that traveled the St Johns River Margaret would educate and teach scripture to her slaves and plantation workers in the sitting room of the Great House As her congregation grew Margaret needed more space thus began construction of the chapel in 1875 Margaret died in 1878 just before the chapel was complete The first ceremony held in the yet unfinished chapel was Margaret s funeral service In 1880 the church was moved to its current location only a few feet from where Lewis and Margaret are buried Closure and current use 2012 present editIn 2005 St Margaret s Parish dedicated a new 450 seat church building near the old building Due to changes in church leadership and a steadily declining membership St Margaret s Church closed its doors in the Spring of 2012 The chapel can now be toured and the main church is being leased by First Assembly of God Fleming Island 6 See also edit nbsp Christianity portalNational Register of Historic Places listings in FloridaReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 St Margarets Episcopal Church and Cemetery Fleming Island FL Address and Phone www countyoffice org Retrieved May 20 2022 Taylor George December 31 2008 St Margaret s Episcopal Church and Cemetary 1 Hibernia FL George Lansing Taylor Collection Main Gallery Living in Fleming Island Niche Retrieved May 20 2022 Hibernia Pub www flemingislandgolfclub com Retrieved May 20 2022 National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places July 9 2010 External links editSt Margaret s Episcopal Church Hibernia website List of burials in St Margaret s Cemetery Clay County listings at National Register of Historic Places Florida s Office of Cultural and Historical Programs Clay County listings Clay County markers St Margaret s Episcopal Church and Cemetery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Margaret 27s Episcopal Church and Cemetery amp oldid 1158505464, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
