St. Augustine, The Episcopal Mission Church And School

SIDE ONE: Established in 1894, St. Augustine, the Mission Church, was the first Episcopal Church and school in Gainesville for persons of color during the Jim Crow era. The Diocese of Florida, under the leadership of Bishop Weed and Rector Rev. A.T. Sharpe of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, founded St. Augustine with 15 congregants: John Wilberforce Tass, Modesta Perez, Josiah T. Walls, Ella Angelina Walls, Nettie Walls, Harriet Frances Carter, Katie Gadson, Hattie Gadson, Mary Long, Ida Cole, Elsie Henry, Sarah S.H. Woodard, Thomas & Sarah Brisban, and William Trapp.

In 1897, a Black minister, the Rev. John Speight, became rector and headmaster, and served from 1897-1919. The elementary school had 50 students and grew to over 100 by 1923. Also in 1923, Lincoln High School opened permitting students of color, previously limited to a 6th grade education, to complete 12 years.

St. Augustine provided a quality education focused on academic excellence in the core courses to prepare for high school. In 1907, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church donated its original wood framed Gothic Church to St. Augustine. The building was moved to its current location and the church was purchased by Bishop Weed.

SIDE TWO: Rev. Speight and his family members graduated from an African American high school in North Carolina, and later joined the St. Augustine School as teachers. After Rev. Speight’s passing in 1924, Rev. Melvis Jackson took over as the new headmaster of St. Augustine School. The school operated through World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the War in Vietnam.

A locally well-known graduate of St. Augustine School was the late T.B. McPherson, who had superior academic skills taught to him before being transferred to Lincoln High School. He credited his academic excellence to St. Augustine School. In 1944, the original church building, dilapidated at that time, was replaced with the current building.

In 1960, Rector Rev. Earle Page, of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, welcomed to his parish African American congregants from St. Augustine, the Mission Church. After its closing by the Diocese of Florida in 1970, ten persons transferred into Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. These persons were: Albert L. Daniels, Johnnie L. Daniels, George Gibson Sr., Elizabeth Gibson, Charmaine Gibson, George Gibson Jr., Mrs. E.T. Taylor, Mrs. Julia McLean, Ms. Edith Taylor, and Mrs. Alma Collins.