2023 November 4, "Walking with the Saints" a Saints Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Florence House of Worship

Today, Hubby and I went on a walking tour with a group led by Lee Freeman at 10:00 A.M. at the Florence Library. 

We visited the former Popular Street Christian Church, now Wood Avenue Church of Christ (1970), across the street from the Florence Library. 

Wood Avenue Church of Christ 

Cavalry Fellowship Church

424 E Tombigbee St Florence, AL 

From the library, we walked to Tombigbee Street and Poplar Street. 

We stopped at the Cavalry Fellowship (former Popular Street Christian Church)

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 630 N Poplar St
Florence, AL

From Cavalary Fellow Ship, we walked several blocks up Poplar St to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (1938), 630 N. Poplar St.

First Baptist Church 209 North Walnut St.

We walked back up several streets to Walnut St., the Baptist church, across from the Florence Library. 

We stopped at the Gothic Style First Baptist Church (1888), 209 North Walnut St.

First Presbyterian Church 224 E Mobile St

Next, we walked to East Mobile Street, where the First Presbyterian Church is across the street from the Florence US Post Office. 

We stopped at First Presbyterian Church (1818), 224 E Mobile St. The Oldest Christian Church is the "Mother Church," Florence's oldest church. 

Tennessee Valley Community Church AME
119 N Pine St Florence, AL 

 

We walked down Mobile Street, a one-way street, to Tennessee Valley Community Church AME on Pine Street. As you can see in the picture, construction is happening near this church. 

Trinity Episcopal Church 410 N Pine St Florence, AL 

We walked up Pine St to Trinity Episcopal Church (1824), Florence's third oldest Christian congregation. This church is a few blocks from Tennessee Valley Community Church, which faces Pine St and North Seminary St. We walked up a few blocks to the United Methodist Church.

First United Methodist Church 415 N Seminary Florence, AL 

Our last stop was First United Methodist Church (1822), 415 N Seminary, the second oldest church in Florence. 

Wilson Park Fountain 

Wilson Park is near the United Methodist Church and across the street from the Florence Library. 

We stopped to take a few pictures of the fountain at Wilson. The wind blew the fountain water, wetting us as we walked by.

There were a couple of children enjoying the sprinklers from the fountain.  

Also took pictures of the Florence Library and the Kennedy Douglas Art Center. 

We ate lunch at St Florian Pharmacy Soda Shop. We sat at the bar and watched as they took orders for dipped ice cream and made sandwiches. 

Hubby ordered a ham and cheese sandwich with chocolates and a strawberry milkshake. 

Reuben Sandwich with chips

I ordered a Reuben with Sun Chips, whole grain Harvest cheddar, and Diet Coke. 

After lunch, we headed home, but there was a traffic jam on Highway 72, where a lot of construction occurred. 

We took Middle Road to the Old Jackson Highway to US 43 home. 

 

2019 Mar 23, 🚎Faith of our Fathers Trolley Tour of Tuscumbia, Alabama

March 23, 2019 

Everyone met at Coldwater Books and began boarding the trolley at 9:30AM.

Lt. Col. Arthur Graves talking to a couple of tourists

The trolley was taking a group on a “Tour of the Faith of our Fathers” Historic Churches of Tuscumbia.

Ron Hudson said that the Georgian Gothic-style First Presbyterian Church was Alabama's oldest house of continual worship and where the Keller Family worshiped for over a century.
Helen Keller was a Baptist here.
Notable Tuscumbians that attended her were Brig. Gen. James Deshler, CSA; Alabama Governor Robert Burns Lindsay; Judge John Anthony Steele, delegate to the State Secession Convention; and Thomas Limerick, first mayor of Tuscumbia and original trustee of the church. 

We explored the architecture and history of the First Presbyterian Church, Lesley Temple, and First Baptist Church, three of Tuscumbia’s oldest churches, and how the faith of our fathers impacted the growth of Tuscumbia. 

Lesley Temple (built around a log cabin, the original building)
Mr. Graves is a devoted member of Lesley Temple C.M.E. Church, where he is proudly the oldest male member of the church.  He serves on the Steward Board and is a Sunday school teacher.  He is also the host of his Sunday morning radio program on WZZA.

Lesley Temple (original light fixture from Presbyterian Church 

Our tour guides were Ron Hudson and Lt. Col. Arthur Graves, the oldest member of Lesley Temple, very knowledgeable about the history of Tuscumbia.