Yesterday I posted about Comfort Station One in downtown St. Petersburg, a gorgeous public restroom designed in the Romanesque Revival style by renowned architect Henry S. Taylor in the 1920′s St. Petersburg boom era. 

Today, I present to you St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, located at the corner of 4th Street and 5th Avenue South, just about a mile southwest of Comfort Station One.  St. Mary’s Church was also designed by Henry S. Taylor in the 1920′s and is also a spectacular example of  the Romanesque Revival style. 

St. Mary’s had already been an active church in St. Petersburg for many years when the new church was built, but this newer, bigger, better version that was constructed in the 1920′s still stands today and is still functional in its original role of a Catholic Church.  Although it has aged like any grand old building does, in 1995 the parish began a two year campaign to raise $300,000.  The money was spent to completely restore the church building to its original glory.  The walls of the church are two feet thick, it has Italian and German stained glass windows, seven balconies, several grand archways, and marble floors. 

I have driven past this striking building for many years, and I can tell you that it catches my eye every single time that I drive by.  If you’d like to pay a visit to this beautiful church, it’s waiting for you,  just two minutes from downtown St. Petersburg. 

St. Mary's Church (click for larger view)