Feb
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 […]
Jan
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 […]
Jan
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 […]
Sep
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 […]
Jan
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 […]
Jan
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 […]
Jan
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 […]
May
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 […]
Jan
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 […]
Jan
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 […]
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Northwest RC&D Council.
The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Research led by Nancy Gonce; research assistance and additional photography by Amy Privette.