A beautiful fountain graces the circled entrance to the Mission grounds. To the right of the circle is the Prince of Peace Church. The church was built in 1965 to commemorate the Mission’s Four Hundredth anniversary. Prince of Peace is a votive church dedicated to prayers that God would deliver the world from atomic warfare.

Photo by Betsy Lee

Similar to the Castillo de San Marcos (1672), a mile north of the Mission grounds, the Prince of Peace Church is composed mostly of coquina stone (a natural rock formation consisting of limestone and small particles of broken seashells which form a strong building material). Like the Castillo, the walls of the church are composed of solid blocks of coquina stone rather than a mixture of coquina dust and cement seen in other constructions. This solid construction reminds the visitor of the strength of the Christian faith and prayer in the face of adversity.

Above the entrance to the Prince of Peace Church is an impressive, brightly colored window depicting the Holy Spirit.

Inside the church to the right of the entrance, is a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. The statue serves as a reminder of Our Blessed Mother’s promises at the apparitions in Fatima, Portugal, especially for world peace and the avoidance of a more terrible world war.

The northern end of the church hosts an outdoor altar made of solid granite. This altar is used for Palm Sunday services and other special occasions.

The Shrine Shop