5 /5 Lance Lubin: Known as “The Mother Church of Saint Petersburg,” Saint Mary has long been recognized as an architectural wonder, with scholars coming from all over the country to study its distinctive features. The grand stone structure stands magnificently on the southern edge of the beautiful city of Saint Petersburg, a landmark easily remembered by visitors.
Father O’Riordan, the first Pastor, envisioned a church constructed on the pattern of San Stefano in Rome, which enchanted him when he studied there for the priesthood. It was a round building in which the altar was the central, spiritual, and architectural focus. This design would allow a large number of worshipers to be near the altar where they could both hear and see well, and feel physically very close to the service.
Architect Henry Taylor was selected to design the project along with Fr. O’Riordan. Mr. Taylor had designed several prominent buildings in Saint Petersburg. Fr. O’Riordan purchased a parcel of land measuring 200’ x 210’ at the corner of Fourth Street and Fifth Avenue South in 1928. This location was the geographic center of the city and seemed to be an excellent site for the church that would serve Saint Petersburg. It was here that the current Saint Mary’s Church would be built.
The land Fr. O’Riordan purchased was a rather small parcel. The traditional nave church would not have been an appropriate design because the lot was too small. The building would need to seat a large congregation, as many as 1,000 people. The unusual octagonal design of Saint Mary was the result of collaboration between Henry Taylor and Fr. O’Riordan when it was realized that this design made the best use of the available land space to maximize the seating capacity of the building.
Construction of the present church began in 1929. DuBois & Hennessy, a local contracting company, was selected to construct the church. The church is Byzantine in style with some Romanesque features. The church’s foundation and walls are made of two-foot thick solid brick. Underneath the decorative wood, the roof trusses are of solid steel.
As you walk around the outside of the church and study the beautiful brick work, look at the gargoyles and the carved columns. Think of the hard labor it took to lay all the brick. Examine the exquisite stone carving of the Three Magi above the main entrance, this event carved in a single piece of refined rock made by Ruckland Stone of Alabama.
Open the massive doors and come inside. Feel the serenity that comes from its solid structure. As the light streams through the sixty-one stained glass windows, one cannot help but feel a very special presence and sense of reverence. The building has seven balconies, numerous grand archways, and marble floors. Saint Mary is indeed a very exceptional place which has provided a wonderful sanctuary for all the religious purposes for which it was intended.
Because of its unique splendor, the church has been popular throughout its history for the celebration of weddings. Many area residents have married here and know relatives or friends who have professed their marriage vows here.
