Florence has always been a community centered in faith. Our first churches were simple, wooden structures in the center of town, later replaced by the beautiful works we see today. Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Baha’is all worship freely in Florence, and continue to work together in peaceful community.

Scroll Down

2018

06

Feb

Special Public Events For Churches

Throughout the 2018 Bicentennial Celebration of our wonderful city of Florence, AL, earliest established congregations will hold special events. These congregations welcome the public to come and learn about the different faiths that make up our community.  This will be a wonderful time to see the beautiful architecture of the buildings and learn about the […]

Read more

1946

01

Jan

Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Florence, AL

Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1946 under the leadership of Rev. J.C. Yarbrough.  The Johnson Homestead Property was purchased on Poplar Street to build the church.  A committee of nine women was formed to name and organize the church. Sis. Annie Griffin, Sis. Eva Hicks, Sis. Stela Waddell, and Sis. Ida Faulk named […]

Read more

1938

01

Jan

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

Several Finnish Lutheran families settled in Cloverdale in the 1880s; however, there was no Lutheran Church in Florence for another fifty years. In 1936 Richard Hasz, a ministerial candidate, was sent by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod to explore the possibility of founding a congregation, which was established in 1938. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on […]

Read more

1917

16

Sep

First Christian Church Florence, Florence, AL

The First Christian Church of Florence, AL was first known as Central Christian Church and was organized September 16, 1917 by Reverend J.R. Jolly and Mr. Chester Campbell.  A group of nineteen persons had been meeting on Sunday afternoons since the previous April but had no definite organization as a church.  This group of Christians […]

Read more

1898

01

Jan

Florence Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, Florence, AL

Florence Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church was established in 1897 but was apparently the successor to an earlier Black Cumberland Presbyterian congregation, since the Florence Times reported in October, 1894, that a Rev. Hudson, “the colored Cumberland Presbyterian preacher,” had died. The “Mother Church” of the Presbytery, Florence Cumberland Colored Presbyterian Church replaced a frame building […]

Read more

01

Jan

St. Joseph Catholic Church, Florence, AL

Although there were Catholics in northwest Alabama before 1818, there was no Catholic church in Lauderdale County until the Benedictines founded St. Florian and established St. Michael’s Church there in 1872. Catholics met for worship in homes in Florence until 1878 when Rev. Benedict Menges OSB, abbot of the St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, stated […]

Read more

1896

01

Jan

Greater Mt. Moriah Primitive Baptist Church, Florence, AL

This congregation first met in home of Mrs. Betsy Key. Organized as “Fairgrounds Church” in 1896 at nearby site of early Florence Racetrack and Fairgrounds, with Andy Sloss as pastor. Later, the church was moved to Irvine Avenue (formerly Fish-Trap Road). Mrs. Mary Ola Key was given honor of naming the church “Mount Moriah.” The […]

Read more

1888

27

May

First Baptist Church, Florence, AL

On May 27, 1888, this church was established at the courthouse after a commencement sermon at the State Normal College delivered by the Rev. W. H. Smith. Its initial name was First Missionary Baptist, but in 1910 it became First Baptist. The Florence Land Company gave property, and a building was erected and occupied in […]

Read more

1886

01

Jan

Wood Avenue Church Of Christ, Florence, AL

In 1886 a group of Christians began meeting in the home of Susan Thrasher on the northeast corner of Court and Tuscaloosa Streets. For the next four years the groups assembled in various rented paces until it obtained its own building. The move was made to the southwest corner of Poplar and Tombigbee Streets in […]

Read more

1883

01

Jan

Armstead Chapel C.M.E. Church, Florence, AL

The congregation now known as Armstead Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal was founded in 1883. The land was purchased for $70.00 from Callie Knox. The first “building”, “Bush Harbor”, was erected from bushes in a small place in the woods where there were no streets or lights. The first pastor was Rev. J.D. Hudson.  The church […]

Read more