Church of Scientology the "United Churches of Florida" the citizens and City Council of Clearwater did not realize that the building's owners were actually the Church of Scientology until after the building's purchase. Clearwater citizens' groups, headed by Mayor Gabriel Cazares, rallied strongly against Scientology establishing a base in the city (repeatedly referring to the organization as a cult), but Flag Base was established nonetheless. In the years since its foundation, the Flag Land Base has expanded as the Church of Scientology has gradually purchased large amounts of additional property in the downtown and waterfront Clearwater area. Scientology's largest project in Clearwater has
St. James Cathedral (Orlando, Florida) tall. The parish established a school in 1928. The two-story Mediterranean Revival school building, which was completed the same year, is a contributing property in the Lake Eola Heights Historic District. It features a bell tower, an ornate entrance, and embellished friezes. The present church building was begun in late 1950, and completed on January 20, 1952. When the Diocese of Orlando was split from the Diocese of St. Augustine on June 18, 1968, St. Charles Borromeo Church was selected as the cathedral. It was significantly damaged in a fire on October 1, 1976. The cathedral was moved to St.