Established in 1821 in St. Augustine and Boulogne, two Florida churches turn 200

Chris Bodor, the chair for the Trinity Parish bicentennial celebration walks out of the sanctuary pas one of the many vintage satined glass windows that decorate the church Thursday, March 26, 2021. Trinity Parish Episcopal Church in the heart of Saint Augustine, Florida's historic district is turning 200 years old this year. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

The Tiffany stained glass window (right) in the original section of Trinity Parish stands out from the many other vintage stained glass windows in the St. Augustine church that is celebrating its bicentennial this year.

Trinity Parish pastor Matthew Marino stands in front of the original entrance to the church that is celebrating its bicentennial this year.

A sign on the Northwest corner of Trinity Parish notes the 1821 date that the church was established Thursday, March 26, 2021. Trinity Parish Episcopal Church in the heart of Saint Augustine, Florida's historic district is turning 200 years old this year. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Chris Bodor, the chair for the Trinity Parish bicentennial celebration, looks at the church's recently restored 1842 bell.

The doorway of the original portion of Trinity Parish that opens onto King Street in downtown Saint Augustine Thursday, March 26, 2021. The stucco has been removed on a portion of the wall to show the original quarried coquina that the oldest portion of the building is made from. Trinity Parish Episcopal Church in the heart of Saint Augustine, Florida's historic district is turning 200 years old this year. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Inside the stained glass adorned main sanctuary of Trinity Parish Thursday, March 26, 2021. Trinity Parish Episcopal Church in the heart of Saint Augustine, Florida's historic district is turning 200 years old this year. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Trinity Parish, on busy King Street in the heart of St. Augustine, turns 200 this year.

Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church in rural Boulogne, Florida, just south of the St. Marys River and the Florida/Georgia line, is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a congregation.

The interior of the Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church in rural Boulogne, Florida just South of the St. Marys River and the Florida/Georgia line, is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a congregation. The 12 original members first gathered outside on the grounds for worship in 1821 and later the first simple wood sanctuary was built. In the 1950's this small, unadorned block building was built which still serves the small congregation. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Church member Teresa Jackson with a popsicle stick model of the Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church buildings made many years ago by one of her four brothers Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Her father, Elder John Robert Nelson was the last full time pastor of the congregation serving from 1984 to 2000. The Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church in rural Boulogne, Florida just South of the St. Marys River and the Florida/Georgia line, is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a congregation. The 12 original members first gathered outside on the grounds for worship in 1821 and later the first simple wood sanctuary was built. In the 1950's the small, unadorned block building was built which still serves the small congregation. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Teresa Jackson, the daughter of Elder John Robert Nelson, holds one of her father hymnals which sits on the podium of the Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Nelson led the congregation from 1984 to 2000 and was the last full time pastor of the rural church. The Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church in rural Boulogne, Florida just South of the St. Marys River and the Florida/Georgia line, is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a congregation. The 12 original members first gathered outside on the grounds for worship in 1821 and later the first simple wood sanctuary was built. In the 1950's the small, unadorned block building was built which still serves the small congregation. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Teresa Jackson holds a poster showing her father, Elder John Robert Nelson, the last full time pastor of the Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church along with other previous heads of the congregation Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church in rural Boulogne, Florida just South of the St. Marys River and the Florida/Georgia line, is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a congregation. The 12 original members first gathered outside on the grounds for worship in 1821 and later the first simple wood sanctuary was built. In the 1950's the small, unadorned block building was built which still serves the small congregation. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Myra Shuman, Teresa Jackson and Larry Shuman in the sanctuary of the Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Myra and Teresa were trying to find the closing hymn sang by church members in their hymnals that the congregation sings before their gatherings end entitled "Farewell". The Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church in rural Boulogne, Florida just South of the St. Marys River and the Florida/Georgia line, is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a congregation. The 12 original members first gathered outside on the grounds for worship in 1821 and later the first simple wood sanctuary was built. In the 1950's the small, unadorned block building was built which still serves the small congregation. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

A sign in the Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church in rural Boulogne, Florida just South of the St. Marys River and the Florida/Georgia line, is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a congregation. The 12 original members first gathered outside on the grounds for worship in 1821 and later the first simple wood sanctuary was built. In the 1950's the small, unadorned block building was built which still serves the small congregation. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

A detail of a headstone in the Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church cemetery Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church in rural Boulogne, Florida just South of the St. Marys River and the Florida/Georgia line, is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a congregation. The 12 original members first gathered outside on the grounds for worship in 1821 and later the first simple wood sanctuary was built. In the 1950's the small, unadorned block building was built which still serves the small congregation. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Myra and Larry Shuman, married 50 years ago at Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church, stand by the headstone of Elizabeth Walker, one of the early members of the church that started 200 years ago. Myra Shuman can trace her family back to the original 12 founding members of the congregation.

Myra Shuman holds her small hymnal open to the "The Parting Hand," a song often sang at Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church's annual meeting. The Primitive Baptist hymnals used by the congregation contain the lyrics of the songs but not the notes to sing.

Larry Shuman at the hand pump well on the grounds of the Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church. Members of the congregation gathered for services near this spot when the church was started in 1821.

Teresa Jackson tends to the gravesites of her parents John and Laura Nelson in the cemetery of the Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church in rural Nassau County. Jackson's father, Elder John Robert Nelson was the last full-time pastor of the congregation serving from 1984 until his death in 2000. Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church began holding services on this land, just south of the Georgia border, in 1821.