The Cross in the Sand: The Early Catholic Church in Florida, 1513-1870

By Michael V. Gannon and Michael Gannon

Book Overview

The story of the early centuries of the Catholic Church in Florida, the oldest establishment of the Christian faith in the United States, is one of the most remarkable in Florida's more than 400 years of history. Michael Gannon first traces Florida's discovery by Catholics, their subsequent explorations, the Spanish settlements, and the evangelization of the Indians, followed by the tragic end of the missions and the temporary collapse of Catholic ascendancy during the British period. The story continues with the reappearance of Catholicism among Minorcan immigrants; the establishment by the Church of Florida's (and the nation's) first schools and hospitals; the schism of the St. Augustine's Church Wardens in the 1820s and 1830s; the arrival of Florida's first bishop, Augustine Verot, in 1858, and beyond.

Across these pages stride Indians from the woods and shores; priests, conquistadors, and statesmen; Spaniards and Minorcans, Unionists and Confederates, mothers and nuns, the rich and the poor, the innocent and the repentant.

Illustrated with maps and rare old sketches and photographs, The Cross in the Sand is as exciting and easy to read as a novel. The book's literary grace is matched by its historical authenticity, because Gannon has used all available manuscripts as well as the best secondary sources of this and past centuries.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813007763
• ISBN13: 9780813007762
• Release Date: December 1965
• Publisher: University Press of Florida
• Length: 210 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A Past for a New America

America in the 21st century is changing and how we see our past should as well. Certain censues offer clear snapshots on where America is at a particular moment. 1890-the frontier is closed. 1920-more people living in urban areas than rural ones. 2000-for the first time there are more Hispanics in America than African Americans. This fact may change a great deal of how we look at the past. As opposed to North-South conflicts, historians may focus on East-West conflicts. Instead of talking about Massachusetts and Virginia, historians may focus on Florida, Texas and California. Instead of Abraham Lincoln being the dominant president of the nineteenth century, either Andrew Jackson or James K. Polk may be. Instead of focusing on Puritans and evangelicals, historians need to focus on Catholicism. Michael Gannon, the dean of Florida historians, offers an excellent and readable look at the founding of the Catholic church in Florida. Focusing on St. Augustine and east Florida (Gannon is simply not as interested in central Florida or Pensacola as he is in his home area), Gannon offers an interesting portrait of cantakerous parish leaders, Jesuit missionaries, conquisdors, Franciscan martyrs and frustrated bishops. It is a fascinating tale and Gannon tells it well. The chief problem with the book is Gannon often seems a bit too breezy as decades seem to go by in mere paragraphs. Gannon is often a bit too partisan as well such as when he goes out of his way to justify Pedro Menendez's bloody actions at Matanzas yet condemning James Moore for employing crude military tactics. Still, minor flaws aside, Gannon offers a readable account of the founding of the Catholic Church in the United States. American history starts not in Jamestown or off Cape Cod but at St. Augustine and the cross planted in the sand in 1565 has grown larger as the years have gone by. As America grows increasingly Hispanic and Catholic not to mention moving down I-95 and I-75, neglected areas like colonial Florida will demand more of our historic attention. Gannon certainly offers a nice starting point in helping a new America understand its past.