A closer look at 3 of the oldest church buildings in the Shoals

The Shoals is known for it’s rich history, with deeply rooted old churches playing a key role in shaping the community. The cities within the Shoals established their roots in the 1800’s and not long after many churches began to establish themselves within the community.

Check out these 3 historic churches in the Shoals.

First Presbyterian Church in Florence

First Presbyterian Church of Florence is located in the downtown area of Florence. The land for the church was acquired from the Cypress Land Company in 1818 and the sanctuary was erected in 1824.

Since the original building, the church has undergone many expansions and renovations. The present sanctuary still occupies the the site of the original 1824 building.

First Presbyterian is considered the “mother church” of Florence.

Trinity Episcopal Church in Florence

Trinity Episcopal Church of Florence is located on Pine street. However, this is not the original site of the church. The original building of the church was located on the corner of College and Cedar.

The original building was constructed in 1845 and burned down in 1893. The new building on Pine street was constructed in 1894, and parts of the old church, like the bell tower, were incorporated into the new build.

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tuscumbia

St. John’s Episcopal Church is located in Tuscumbia. This church was built in 1839 and is Alabama’s oldest surviving church built in the carpenter gothic style.

During the Civil War, the church was occupied by union soldiers. They used the building as a stable for their horses.

St. John’s is apart of the Northwest Alabama hallelujah trail. Today, the church does not hold any regular services, but they are open once a year for a memorial service.

What historic churches in the Shoals did we miss? Let us know on Facebook & Instagram!