Sacred Heart Church

The very first Catholic Church on Florida’s west coast was established in Tampa during 1860. It was named Saint Louis Parish in honor,of a Dominican missionary who was martyred on the shores of Tampa Bay in 1549. Following a Yellow Fever epidemic in 1888, which took the lives of the local priests, the Jesuits assumed responsibility for the parish.
By 1892, Tampa had grown sufficiently that the citizenry felt the need for a new church. Groundbreaking occurred in 1898, with the cornerstone being laid two years later. It was officially dedicated in 1905 and renamed Sacred Heart. Parts of the new construction included a 135 foot dome and 70 stained glass windows. A school , called Sacred Heart Academy, was opened in 1931 and operated until 2012.
By 2005, the Jesuits had withdrawn from running the parish in order to focus on their academic institutions. Rev. Robert Lynch, the Diocesan Bishop at the time, invited the Franciscan Friars of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Province to assume responsibility for the parish.
A marker was installed on the exterior of the church in 2010 to recognize its historical significance.

Located on North Florida Ave. in downtown Tampa, Sacred Heart Church was constructed in 1905 in the Romanesque style.

Archival photo of the church shortly after its dedication.

The main altar is beautifully done (obviously they are expecting a wedding to take place soon).

Well depicted in this postcard is the workmanship that’s went into creating the main altarpiece.

Equally impressive are the decorations on the underside of the dome over the altar.

Sacred Heart has 70 exquisitely stained glass windows throughout the building....

...and, of course, a magnificent pipe organ.