One of my favorite spots in St Augustine is the Mission of Nombre de Dios. It is probably the most peaceful place I have ever been. Its serenity encourages my mind and spirit to quiet, and those who know me know how infrequently this happens. It has always been enough for me to visit the small chapel there, walk through the grounds, and revel in the breezes coming off the marsh.
How, however, I have even more reason to visit the Mission. Archaeologist Kathleen Deagan, a lady who has devoted a good bit of her life to looking beneath the surface of my beloved town, believes she and her team have located the stone foundation of what is likely the oldest church building in the nation, right on the Mission grounds.
Article & photos by Raphael Cosme. (The photos are fantastic!)