New York J 766: Commending St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Port Chester, New York, upon the occasion of celebrating its 176th Anniversary on May 4, 2025

Bill Text

Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State Assembly 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Skip to main content 

 New York State Assembly

 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

 --> 
 --> 

 --> 

• 
 Assembly Members 

• 
 Legislative Info 

• 
 Public Hearings 

• 
 Speaker's Press 

• 
 Assembly Reports 

• 
 Committees & More 

• Bill Search Home
• Laws
• Legislative Calendar
• Public Hearing Schedule
• Assembly Calendars
• Assembly Committee Agenda 

 Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page. 

 - This bill is not active in this session.

 Bill No.: 

• Summary 
• Actions 
• Committee&nbspVotes 
• Floor&nbspVotes 
• Memo 
• Text 
• LFIN 
• Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript 
J00766 Summary:

BILL NOJ00766 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORMAYER

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

&nbsp

Go to top J00766 Actions:

BILL NOJ00766 

&nbsp

04/09/2025REFERRED TO FINANCE

04/29/2025REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION

04/29/2025ADOPTED

Go to topJ00766 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topJ00766 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topJ00766 Text:

Senate Resolution No. 766

BY: Senator MAYER

 COMMENDING St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal
 Zion Church of Port Chester, New York, upon the
 occasion of celebrating its 176th Anniversary on May
 4, 2025

 WHEREAS, Religious institutions and the many spiritual, social, and
educational benefits they confer play a vital role in the development of
the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and

 WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and

 WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in commending St.
Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Port Chester, New
York, upon the occasion of its 176th Anniversary to be celebrated on May
4, 2025; and

 WHEREAS, St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was
founded in the spring of 1849 at the home of "Auntie Banks," and the
initial gatherings centered around prayers and testimonial services; and

 WHEREAS, Those who attended early services at the home of "Auntie
Banks" often traveled far to find African Methodist Episcopal Zion
churches; with a desire to bring this type of church to their own
community, the gatherings continued to grow, and a circuit preacher,
Father Tappan, was appointed to officially preside over the church in
1850; and

 WHEREAS, In 1856, the congregation moved to their first house of
worship, and the Reverend Jeptha Barcroft was appointed as their
full-time pastor; and

 WHEREAS, Despite being faced with two devastating fires that
destroyed two church buildings throughout its history, St. Frances
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church persevered and continued to
rebuild and serve its community; and

 WHEREAS, St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church stands
as the oldest religious, fraternal, civic, and social organization
serving the African-American community in Port Chester, New York, and
its surrounding communities; and

 WHEREAS, Many older members of sister churches in the area began
their religious life in St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church because it was the only church serving people of color when they
moved to New York from the south, other parts of the United States, and
the Caribbean Islands; and

 WHEREAS, Throughout its 176 years of service, many found community,
faith, and family through St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church; and

 WHEREAS, St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church stands
on the threshold of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the
coming decades while retaining 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
commend St. Frances African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church upon the
occasion of celebrating its 176th Anniversary on May 4, 2025, fully
confident that this commemoration reflects the belief in those values
which enhance the dignity and purpose of life; and be it further

 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Reverend Lawrence D. Alston of St. Frances African
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

Go to top 

• 

 Sitemap 

 Request Information 

 Directions and Maps