St. Florian in Lauderdale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

St. Michael's Catholic Church

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, June 23, 2009

1. St. Michael's Catholic Church Marker

Inscription. In 1872, Catholics of German ancestry settled on the former Wilson Plantation and established the town of St. Florian. St. Michael's Church was built south of the road, moved to the present site in 1878, and replaced with the present building in 1916. The stained-glass windows, ordered from Munich, Bavaria, weren't installed until the 1920's. The rectory was built in 1872, burned and was rebuilt in 1934. The first pastor, Fr. Michael Merz, a German priest, died in 1876. He was replaced by Fr. Gabriel Guester, O.S.B. from Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Benedictine priests have served the parish since that time.

Erected by Florence Historical Board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 34° 52.486′ N, 87° 37.567′ W. Marker is in St. Florian, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. It is on Church Road (County Road 30) west of Old Jackson Highway (County Road 61). The Church and marker are located just west of the Riverhill School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2751 Co Rd.30, Florence AL 35630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Shoals.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Florian Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wilson Family Cemetery 19th Century / Slave Cemetery 19th Century

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(approx. 1.7 miles away); Shoals Creek Preserve Tract (approx. 2.2 miles away); Tate Springs Estate Early 1800’s (approx. 2.4 miles away); Andrew Jackson's Military Road (approx. 2.4 miles away); Deibert Park (approx. 2.6 miles away); Larimore Home (approx. 2.7 miles away); Governor Hugh McVay Home Site and Cemetery (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Florian.

St. Michael's Catholic Church Marker & Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, June 23, 2009

2. St. Michael's Catholic Church Marker & Church

St. Michael's Catholic Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, October 2, 2010

3. St. Michael's Catholic Church

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,966 times since then and 49 times this year. Last updated on June 12, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 12, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on October 2, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.