The first Poles came to Connecticut around 1870 and settled primarily in the manufacturing centers of Union City, Bridgeport, Meriden, Middleotwn, New Haven, Rockville, Hartford, and Stamford.  In 1880, the first Polish immigrants arrived in Derby, according to the baptismal records of Saint Mary's Church.  The Polish people in Derby and Shelton emigrated from the section of Poland called Malopolska which was seized by Austria during the infamous dismemberment of Poland by Germany, Austria, and Russia.  Austria renamed the stolen province Galicia after the town of Halicz in the eastern part of Malopolska.  A smaller group of Polish emigrants came from the Tarnow area mainly from the southerly semi-circular region of the Carpathian Mountains.  Everyone who undertook the voyage to America vowed a speedy return to Poland.  Instead they remained in the United States forming a respected segment of American society. 

The first white colonists of Derby were from Derbyshire, England.  After 20 years the General Court (colonial government) authorized the colonists the use of the town name of Derby for their colony.  At that time Derby comprised the land area of the present cities of Derby and Ansonia, the town of Seymour, and the larger part of the towns of Oxford and Beacon Falls.  Today Derby, which at one time had an area of 35 thousand acres, has 3292 acres and is one of the smallest cities in Connecticut. 

Father Stanislaus Konieczny wrote that the year 1875 should be acknowledged as the earliest date of arrival in Derby of Polish pioneers.  Some came to Derby from Pennsylvania, others arrived directly from Poland.  Among the first to come to Derby were Francis and Wanda Stochmal, Peter and Agnes Baut, John Smolen, Gabriel and Catherine Dziadik, Albert Wajdowicz, Eva Franszka, Anthony Buszkiewicz, Francis Bush, Joseph Skowronski, Walter Skowronski, Peter Polakowski, Jacob and Maria Baut, and May Kosciolek.   Except for a few families, bachelors were the first to migrate.  Then they brought over their next of kin and relatives. 

On January 1, 1896, Francis Stochmal and several prominent companions organized the oldest Polish organization in Derby under the name "Society of St. Michael the Archangel".  Its primary function was to organize a Polish parish.  Its first members were:  Francis Stochmal, John Smolen, George Wajdowicz, Peter Baut, Francis Danowski, Joseph Skowronski, Francis Bush, and Joseph Wasikowski.  The society grew in meaning and number for very often someone new arrived from Poland and joined their ranks. 

The Polish people in Derby wanted a Polish parish.  At this time, Francis Stochmal conceived that a new organization open to all Polish people from the towns of Derby, Ansonia, Shelton, Seymour, and Orange should be created.  In February 1903, a new organization was established and given the name "Parish Society of St. Michael the Archangel in Derby, Connecticut".  Fifty-four people signed up the same day.  The following officers were elected: President - Francis Stochmal, Vice-President - Stephen Stehlik, Secretary - George Wajdowicz, and Treasurer- Lawrence Brzuszek.

For many years, St. Mary's Church in Derby was attended by the Polish population.  The pastor, Rev. Charles McElroy arranged for a Polish priest to visit his parish and take care of the spiritual needs of the Polish parishioners.  Rev McElroy refused to intercede with Bishop Michael Tierney for the creation of a Polish parish.   He felt that the necessary money could not be raised by the Polish people.   However, the Polish people were persistant.  On August 8, 1903 a parcel of land was purchased on Derby Avenue in East Derby for the site of a parish.  In 1904, Rev. Walter Stec came to Derby from Poland.  Still the answer from Hartford was no.  The Apostolic Delegate in Washington DC also refused to endorse the proposal. 

In March 1905, Parish Society delegates, Francis Stochmal and Michael Ignatowski, traveled to Hartford for an audience with the Bishop for a new Polish church.  They returned with joyous news that the Parish Society would soon receive a letter from the Bishop granting the long sought permission to establish a parish.  On July 15, 1905, Bishop Michael Tierney of Hartford commissioned the Vicentian Fathers to organize a Polish parish in Derby.  Father Stanislaus Konieczny was appointed pastor.  The new parish was named St. Michael's Church of Derby.  However, until he was able to assume his duties, his assistant, Father George Glogowski took over.

The next pressing problem was to find a place to hold services.  The church basement of St. Mary's at first came to mind.  However this was abandoned as St. Mary's wanted one-half of each Sunday's collection as rental for the basement.  A hall on lower Main Street was then found and rented from Max Durrschmidt.  On August 20, 1905, services were held for the first time at Durrschmidt Hall for an annual rental fee of $120.

Several month later, on April 9, 1906, a parcel of land adjoining the parish property was purchased as the site for the church.  On May 14, 1906, Max Durrschmidt was awarded the construction contract to build the new parish. 

Construction of the church moved along very rapidly.  The cornerstone ceremony was held on Sunday September 23, 1906 with the Bishop Michael Tierney officiating assisted by several area priests.  In conjunction with the cornerstone ceremony, organizations and parishioners, led by a band, paraded from Main Street to Derby Avenue.  Before the cornerstone was sealed, a metal box was placed in it for posterity.

Holy Mass was celebrated for the first time at St. Michael's Church in the completed lower level on December 22, 1906.  On July 4, 1907, the completed church was blessed by the Vicar General, Very Reverend John Synott.  The main celebrant was Father Zimmermann assisted by Father Stanislaus Sobieniowski of Bridgeport and Father Gerwazy of East New York.  A reception followed in Durrschmidt Hall.

It wasn't an easy task, the building of St. Michael's.  The people sacrificed and gave so much of themselves.  They gave their nickels, dimes, and quarters.  They gave when it meant having less to eat.  They gave because they had a dream in which they believed.

A rented room in the Dziadik home on Main Street, Derby served as the first rectory of St. Michael Parish.  This arrangement was temporary while the house on the corner of the parcel of land purchased was renovated. The first pastor, Father Stanislaus Konieczny, moved into this renovated house on November 1905. 

A new rectory was planned by Father Waszko.  Construction started in 1912.  January 1913, the parish borrowed $7,000.00 to finish the construction of the new rectory.  Father Waszko moved into the new rectory in 1913.  The rectory is a three story building which is still used today.

St. Michael School was established in the basement of the church in 1907.  Rev. Joseph Janowski was appointed principal and catechist of the new St. Michael's School.  The enrollment quickly climbed at a very rapid pace. Father Paul Waszko attempted to get an Order of Nuns for the school which was approved by the Bishop.  Sisters for Polish schools were very much in demand.  After many failures, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth from Chicago, IL were permitted to come to Derby and take charge of the school.  After the completion of the rectory in 1913, Father Waszko turned his attention to a new school and convent to meet the needs of the parish.  Two houses on the parish property were sold and moved to Bank Street to make way for the school construction.  Plans were drawn up by architect Joseph Jackson.  The school would consist of 10 classrooms on the first and second floors, an auditorium on the third floor, and the Sister's convent as a wing of the school building on the left.  The school building was completed in 1914. 

On January 1, 1915, St. Michael School was dedicated by Bishop John Nilan, who was assisted by local priests.

In 1938, Father Swaltek suggested building a Miraculous Medal Shrine alongside the rectory facing the highway.  The Children of Mary furnish the funds for the Blessed VIrgin statue and the parishioners furnish the funds for the shrine.  On April 30, 1939, Msgr. Boleslaus Puchalski of Brooklyn blessed the shrine and statues along with Father Studzinski and Father Paul Dylla.

In 1939, a special committee was formed to search for a parcel of land for a cemetery.  A parcel of land was purchased from Platt Farms on Silver Hill.  Work on the cemetery started the following spring.  The Bishop in 1940 approved the establishment of a parish cemetery.  Two stone columns were erected at the entrance of the cemetery with the works "St. Michael's R. C. Cemetery".   The cemetery plans provided burial sites for 2,500 deceased.

October 1947, the home of the late Royal Pinney was purchased by the parish from his estate.  In 1948 after renovating the home, the property was turned over to the Catholic War Veterans, St. Michael Post No. 1562.

Since this time, the church has grown to be a multi-cultural church which focuses on the teachings of the Catholic religion. 

Deacon Louis Canaveri, born in Jessup, PA in 1930, became a Lector at St. Michael's in the 1960's after becoming a member in 1957.  In the 1980's he had the calling to become a Deacon.  On June 21, 1986, he was ordained a Deacon in a ceremony celebrated at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hartford, CT.  Deacon Louis was the first and currently only Deacon at St. Michael's Church.  He served St. Michael's Parish by assisting at Mass, distributing the Holy Eucharist, performing weddings and baptisms, assisting at funerals, and visiting the sick.  He and his wife, Louise Lesnefsky Canaveri, also headed the PreCana classes for the Archdiocese of Hartford until his death in 1996.