St. Benedict the Moor School, St. Augustine
St. Benedict the Moor School is a former Black Catholic primary school located in the Lincolnville Historic District of St. Augustine. It is a contributing property of the Lincolnville Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The school was established in 1871 as part of a Catholic mission to serve and minister to newly freed slaves.
Katherine Drexel, founder and superior of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, donated the $7,500 used for the construction of the school. The order of nuns was formed "to serve Indians and Colored People." Katherine Drexel was a member of the wealthy Philadelphia banking family and was made a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
St. Benedict the Moor School was constructed of brick and was one of the first schools for black students in Florida. The students were instructed by nuns of a local convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The school was opened between 1898 and 1968, and there were between 90 and 100 students enrolled per year. The school is located on a parcel of land that includes the school on the southern end of the property, the parish house in the center, and the church of St. Benedict the Moor at the north end, staffed by the Josephites.
During 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. used the rectory as a meeting place to plan marches. The school was closed soon after, partly as a result of school desegregation legislation which arose in the wake of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The events which occurred in St. Augustine, of which Martin Luther King Jr. played a key role, were an important catalyst in the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
In 1916, three white Catholic nuns were arrested for violating a 1913 Florida law prohibiting white teachers from instructing black students. The three were acquitted on the grounds that the law did not apply to private schools.
Despite being a contributing property of the Lincolnville Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, the school currently sits exposed to the elements with no roof or windows. The roof was removed during 2006 as part of a restoration project which has been stalled for an alleged lack of funding.
Katherine Drexel, founder and superior of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, donated the $7,500 used for the construction of the school. The order of nuns was formed "to serve Indians and Colored People." Katherine Drexel was a member of the wealthy Philadelphia banking family and was made a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
St. Benedict the Moor School was constructed of brick and was one of the first schools for black students in Florida. The students were instructed by nuns of a local convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The school was opened between 1898 and 1968, and there were between 90 and 100 students enrolled per year. The school is located on a parcel of land that includes the school on the southern end of the property, the parish house in the center, and the church of St. Benedict the Moor at the north end, staffed by the Josephites.
During 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. used the rectory as a meeting place to plan marches. The school was closed soon after, partly as a result of school desegregation legislation which arose in the wake of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The events which occurred in St. Augustine, of which Martin Luther King Jr. played a key role, were an important catalyst in the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
In 1916, three white Catholic nuns were arrested for violating a 1913 Florida law prohibiting white teachers from instructing black students. The three were acquitted on the grounds that the law did not apply to private schools.
Despite being a contributing property of the Lincolnville Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, the school currently sits exposed to the elements with no roof or windows. The roof was removed during 2006 as part of a restoration project which has been stalled for an alleged lack of funding.
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St. Benedict the Moor School on Map
Sight Name: St. Benedict the Moor School
Sight Location: St. Augustine, USA (See walking tours in St. Augustine)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: St. Augustine, USA (See walking tours in St. Augustine)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in St. Augustine, Florida
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Pedro Menendez de Aviles, a Spanish explorer, founded the city in 1565. After first sighting land in Florida... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
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One of the most significant early European sites in the city is the Castillo de San... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
One of the most significant early European sites in the city is the Castillo de San... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles