Church History

Rev. Robert Kelliher appointed first pastor of Florence.
September 2 - He bought the large three-story stone school building from the Baptist Church and converted it into the present Catholic Church of Florence under the title of St. Mary of Mount Carmel.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. John Peter Fitzpatrick became pastor of Florence on August 1st.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Fitzpatrick enlarged the Florence Church.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. John Ludden appointed pastor of Florence in December.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Ludden built the rectory and barn and deeded the church property to lay trustees.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Florence. Bishop McNierney, of Albany, visited Father John Ludden yesterday, and has appointed Rev. Father [P. J.] Birmingham, of Cleveland, Oswego county, to the Florence parish. Father Birmingham was formerly assistant in St. John's church, Utica, and later at Rome. He has had charge of the Cleveland parish for some time. He is a young man but has already gained a host of friends among the people of Central New York for his earnest and untiring efforts in behalf of the temperance cause. No better successor of Father John Ludden could be found. For a few days there has been no perceptible change for the better or worse in Father Ludden's case, but it is considered about hopeless. Father Ludden is one of a class of clergmen who can hardly be spared by his church. He combines rare qualifications of mind and heart with peculiar modesty and devotion to the interests of his people, and if he is taken away his loss will be greatly felt.

Camden Advance-Journal newspaper - Thurs. Sept. 26, 1878

Rev. Ludden died September 28.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Birmingham bought and installed the organ and the church bell.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

The church bell was installed in 1879, [Paul] Clark said, and the names of every parishioner who contributed towards its purchase has their name inscribed on it.

Utica Observer-Dispatch newspaper - March 16, 1983

Rev. Birmingham died August 24 following injuries sustained in a runaway accident, and is buried in front of church near Father John Ludden.
Rev. John J. Brennan appointed by Bishop McNeirny to succeed Father Birmingham in September.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. James B. Greene assumed charge at Florence on March 7th.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Florence -- The gentlemen working on the interior of St. Mary's church are doing a first class job. When finished it will be the best country church in central New York. Rev. Father Greene, the pastor, is a good financier and is doing a good deal of work on the church and grounds with very little money. Success to him.

Camden Advance-Journal newspaper - Thurs. Oct. 24, 1888

East Florence, N.Y., Sept. 25, 1889. -- The annual festival of St. Mary's church, Florence, will be held at the East Florence Hotel, October 8 and 9. The new proprietor, Mr. Murphy, has promised the hall and every advantage for the society to make it a success. There will be a contest for a lady's gold watch, between Misses Angelia Murphy and Nellie Kelliher. A more extended program next week.

Camden Advance-Journal newspaper - Thurs. Sept. 26, 1889

Annual Festival. The annual festival of St. Mary's Catholic church of Florence, will be held at the East Florence hotel, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, Oct. 8th and 9th. Mr. Murphy the new proprietor of the hotel has promised every advantage for the society, with the hall and commodious house, and it will be a success. One of the attractions will be the voting contest for a lady's gold watch between Misses Angelia Murphy and Nellie Kelliher. Good music is on the programme for both evenings. Supper and dance tickets Tuesday night 50 cents per couple. Dancing till midnight only. On Wednesday, the best and closing night, the tickets will be $1 per couple. All are cordially invited to attend.

Camden Advance-Journal newspaper - Thurs. Oct. 3, 1889

All debts were paid and the mortgage cancelled.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

The McNamara Hotel property was acquired.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Florence. July 4 -- . . .
One feature of the fourth of July celebration of st. mary's church, was the confirmation of 104 boys and girls by the Right Rev. P. A. Ludden D. D. Bishop of Syracuse. The event was looked forward to with great interest by the inhabitants of this town, and for the past year the children were under the earnest care and instruction of their pastor, Rev. Jas. B. Greene. At 9:45 a.m. the procession which had been formed in St. Mary's Hall began it's march to the church. First came 54 boys wearing badges and carrying prayer books and rosary beads. Following these were 50 girls attired in white dresses and veils and crowned with wreaths of flowers. The entire effect was impressive and beautiful. Mass was celebrated at 10 o'clock by Rev. James M. Ludden of St. John's church, Albany. The priests present at the mass were Rev. James M. Ludden of Albany, Rev. Anthony Ludden, Dean of Little Falls, Rev. John J. Brennan of Utica, Rev. James Donnelly, of Waterville, Rev. Joseph S. Tiernan of Camden, Rev. F. J. Halnault,S. T. B. of Taberg.

Camden Advance-Journal newspaper - Thurs. July 6, 1899

Florence. Aug. 1 -- . . .
The annual picnic of St. Mary's congregation will be held in St. Mary's grove, Florence, Wednesday Aug. 16, 1899. A day of real pleasure will be enjoyed by all who attend, for the society will make every effort to add to their pleasure. The usual attractions will be on the program with the addition of the novel and graceful feature of a cake walk. Good music will please the dancers, who will begin to "trip the light fantastic" at 10 a.m. The ladies will furnish a bountiful dinner. Tickets 25¢; children 10¢.

Camden Advance-Journal newspaper - Thurs. Aug. 3, 1899

Two marble side altars were erected, the stained glass windows installed, the sanctuary enlarged.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

New Stations of the Cross and several beautiful statues were placed.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Father Greene was transferred to St. John's Church in Binghamton, NY.
Rev. John W. Farrar succeeded Father Greene.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Father Farrar assumed new pastoral duties at Hamilton, NY in January.
Rev. Joseph Ellis became new pastor of Florence on March 1st.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Florence, June 15 -- Rev. J. F. Ellis celebrated the sixth anniversary of his ordination on Saturday. He was presented with a purse of $25 in gold by the children. A high mass was celebrated at 8 o'clock. There was a large attendance of children, after which they were served with ice cream and cake at the parochial residence.

Camden Advance-Journal newspaper - Thurs. June 15, 1915

The statue of the Sacred Heart, in memory of the veterans of World War I, which stands in the church yard, was purchased.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Father Ellis was promoted to the pastorate of St. Francis, Durhamville, he was succeeded by Rev. D. Francis Curtin in September. Rev. John Powers followed Father Curtin.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

The mission at Redfield was begun in Spring. It was completely finished, furnished and paid for by Christmas. The cost of the church, furnishings and all, was $2500. The Redfield mission was deeded to St. Mary's Church, Florence. A Mr. John Wilson gave the lot, deeding it to Father Powers. Father Powers was moved to Camden. Rev. Richard J. Shields was appointed.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

The interior of the church had undergone a great change. The side balconies were removed and other improvements made. Extensive improvements were also made in the rectory. Interior decorations were completed in November.

The interior of the mission in Redfield was decorated. By permission of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Curley, Msgr. Albert J. Hayes, M.R., dedicated the mission at Redfield.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Notable Days for Catholicity in the Towns of Florence and Redfield
Pulaski-Democrat newspaper - December 23, 1925

Rev. Edmund J. Codd succeeded in the Fall.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Codd was responsible for the burial vault in the cemetery, the erection of the cemetery fence, the placing of a new roof on the rectory, and the installation of electricity in the church and rectory.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Codd was transferred to Durhamville. Rev. Lawrence Daley was appointed pastor in June.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Daley redecorated the interior of the rectory and made many improvements in the church and sanctuary.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Robert Reddy followed Father Daley.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

The garage and barn were remodeled and the new vestment case and pulpit were installed in the church.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. John A. Scanlon was appointed pastor.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Scanlon bought furnishings for the rectory and equipment to care for the cemetery.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Edward P. Kenefic became pastor in the Winter.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Kenefic made considerable improvements in the rectory and purchased necessary vestments for the church. He also redecorated the church in Redfield.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. Ambrose J. Ruppert succeeded Father Kenefic.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Plans and preparations were begun in the Spring for the celebration of the 100th Anniversary, which was to take place in 1945.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

The remodeling of the understructure of the church, the reconditioning and repairing of the floor, enlargement of aisles, installation of plastic tile floor, installation of automatic oil heating and air conditioning system, repairing and painting of roof, complete interior redecoration, complete exterior redecoration, new statues, holy water fonts, baptismal font and confessional. New furniture was bought for the Rectory, a well was drilled and improvements made on the grounds about the Rectory and throughout the Cemetery. The revision of insurance on all of the church property, both in Florence and Redfield, was made at considerable expense, but with very satisfactory results and protection.

100th Anniversary Booklet - 1945

Rev. James J. O'Connell became pastor of St. Mary's. He is also pastor of St. Paul's Church of Redfield and principal of Rome Catholic High School.

St. Mary's Church in Florence Notes 125th Anniversary Sept. 13
Rome Daily Sentinel newspaper - August 18, 1970

The interior of St. Mary's was renovated. Wall-to-wall carpeting was installed, and the original pews were replaced with pews from St. Daniel's Church in Syracuse.

St. Mary's Church in Florence Notes 125th Anniversary Sept. 13
Rome Daily Sentinel newspaper - August 18, 1970

The fire was in the rectory occupied by the Rev. Msgr. John R. Madden,
director of the Rome Catholic Charities and pastor of St. Mary's Church, Florence, and St. Paul's Mission in Redfield.

Fire Is Fatal At Rectory In Florence
Utica Observer-Dispatch newspaper - July 17, 1974

July 17 Rectory Fire Newspaper Article [Utica Observer-Dispatch]

Lightning bolt damaged St. Mary's steeple and bells.

St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church to mark 140th year
Rome Daily Sentinel newspaper - July, 1985

Changes in Parish Relationships Announced
The Most Reverend James M. Moynihan, Bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse, has approved the following parish changes, effective July 2003:
. . .
IV. Status changed from Parish to Devotional Chapel, effective July 1
St. Mary Church in Florence will now serve as a devotional chapel.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse website - July 7, 2003

July 9 Church cuts regular services [Utica Observer-Dispatch]

July 13 Diocese changes reflect priest shortage [Utica Observer-Dispatch]