This church complex occupies the block bounded by Florian, Latham,
Poland and Brombach in Hamtramck. It is located within the St. Florian Historic
District.
This church won an award from the American Architect magazine in 1929, one year after it was completed. It is easy to concur with the wisdom of those judges. St. Albertus (1872) was the first Polish Catholic church in Detroit. Despite the very stormy relationship of Polish immigrants with the Catholic hierarchy, at least seven additional Catholic parishes were founded: Sweetest Heart of Mary (1888) at 4400 Russell; St. Josephus's (1889) at 715 Canfield; St. Stanislaus (1890s) at 2246 Medbury; St. Hyacinth; St. Florian (1907) in Hamtramck and, on the west side: St. Casimir (1882); St. Francis of Assisi (1889) at Rich and Wesson and St. Hedwig (1903) at 3245 Junction. This reflects the substantial immigration of Poles to Detroit.
By 1907, Ford, Dodge and Packard plants were employing many Polish immigrants who settled in Hamtramck Township or contiguous neighborhoods in Detroit. St. Florian's started with a humble structure, but the increasing prosperity of Poles and their generosity facilitated construction of one of the most attractive churches in the metropolis. Ralph Adams Cram of the nationally know Boston firm of church architects, Cram and Ferguson, was recruited to design a massive Gothic structure. The front features a broad Gothic Arch flanked by twin spires notable for the impression that give of lightness and delicateness. The brickwork is also exceptionally impressive with a variety of horizontal bands. The stained glass work is striking and fitting for such an interesting church. The alter windows depict five famous Polish saints—Casimir, Florian, Hedwig, Hyacinth and Stanislaus—while the nave windows illustrate the life and teachings of Christ.
This is another example of how immigrants coming to Detroit—many of them lacking much in the line of formal education—used their savings to build extraordinarily attractive religious structures, presumably reflecting their dedication to their faiths. The Polish population moved away from Hamtramck after World War II, but the St. Florian Historic District serves the same function in the first decade of the 21st century as it did a century ago—providing homes for low- and middle-income migrants coming to Detroit to seek a more prosperous and secure life. St. Florian's Church is a most impressive memorial left by the Poles who once lived here in great numbers.
St. Florian was a Roman soldier born near Vienna in 280. He converted to Catholicism and was martyred for his faith by being thrown into the Enns River in upper Austria near Poland. His bones were transferred to Rome, but in 1184, King Casimir of Poland brought his relics back to Krakow. Florian is credited with preventing the destruction of Krakow by fire; hence he is the patron saint of firefighters.
Architect: Ralph Adams Cram of Cram and Ferguson
Date of Completion: 1928
Architectural Style: English Gothic
Stained Glass Windows: Kase Company
Michigan Registry of Historic Sites: P25314. This is the registration for the
St. Florian Historic District that includes a total of 691 structures in a large
area of Hamtramck bounded by Joseph Campau, Holbrook, Dequindre, Norwalk, Limpkin
and Yeans.
National Registry of Historic Sites: Listed: September 13, 1984
Photo: Ren Farley, September, 2002
Use in 2002: Catholic Church with at least one Sunday Mass said in Polish.