LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the
Larchmont Avenue Church

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay trib-
ute to those sacred institutions whose historic significance has
contributed to the culture and traditions of our citizens; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 100th Anniversary of the Larchmont Avenue Church; and
WHEREAS, This momentous occasion will commence with Welcoming Festiv-
ities on Saturday, June 7, 2014, and will conclude with a Centennial
Sunday Celebration of a Pentecost Worship proceeding to a Catered Lunch-
eon, on Sunday, June 8, 2014, at the Larchmont Avenue Church, Larchmont,
New York; and
WHEREAS, On May 17, 1914, 40 people met at the Larchmont home of Emily
Lindsley, daughter of a Presbyterian minister, to form the congregation
which would become the Larchmont Avenue Church (LAC); they were united
by faith in their desire to establish a church in the Reformed tradition
in Larchmont; and
WHEREAS, Within a few months, these founding members of the LAC had
formed a Sunday School and formally organized under the Presbytery of
Westchester; services were held in artist Helena Flint's studio carriage
house, but the rapidly growing congregation needed a permanent home; and
WHEREAS, Subsequently, land was purchased at the corner of Larchmont
and Forest Park Avenues, and by December of 1915, the basement church,
now the Carhart Room, was completed and Reverend Charles Carhart became
LAC's first pastor; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Larchmont Avenue Church is a community church of
772 members, and is richly blessed with talented people who serve on the
Session, Trustees and Board of Deacons; diverse religious traditions in
the local community and among church members provide opportunities for
interfaith dialogue, in which LAC plays a leading role; and
WHEREAS, The Church's thriving Sunday School of 163 students currently
has nine classes and 30 volunteer teachers; lively middle school and
senior high programs focus on fellowship, fun, working together, and
growing in faith; and
WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of Reverend Dr. William P.
Crawford, LAC is deeply committed to serving those in need; building
long-time partnerships with CAP Center in Mamaroneck, HOPE Community
Kitchen in New Rochelle, Midnight Run and many others, LAC is known for
its service to the community it so ably serves; and
WHEREAS, A vibrant, engaged compassionate and welcoming church, LAC
also hosts annual mission trips to Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic,
and this Centennial year, to the Arizona/Mexico border as part of its
Ministry Abroad program; and
WHEREAS, The Larchmont Avenue Church stands on the threshold of tomor-
row, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retain-
ing that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Larchmont Avenue Church; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend Dr. William P. Crawford, Larchmont Avenue Church,
Larchmont, New York.