A house RESOLUTION

 

TO CELEBRATE THE JOYOUS OCCASION OF THE historic ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF Langrum Branch Baptist CHURCH AND TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR Reverend Richard Pickering Sr. AND THE CONGREGATION FOR a century and a half OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE York COMMUNITY.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is gratified to learn that members of Langrum Branch Baptist Church of York will celebrate their one hundred fiftieth anniversary in 2025; and

 

Whereas, Langrum Branch Baptist Church was organized in Yorkville in 1875. The church took its name from nearby Langham Creek, which was the church's original name. It is believed that the members first met in a brush arbor with Reverend Allen Bert as their first minister. A few years later, the first sanctuary was constructed, a one-room building that served for over thirty years; and

 

Whereas, under the leadership of Pastor Perry C. Little in 1909, plans were laid to build a new church, and land was purchased through donations from members and friends. The church continued to prosper for the next thirty-one years, during the tenure of several pastors; and

 

Whereas, by this time, the church had an active vocal choir and the Missionary Society, and the trustees began work on the original restricted deed granted by York County. Since the church had been properly used for forty years, a new deed ceded the original three acres to the church; and

 

Whereas, as the congregation continued to grow in the early 1930s, the church formed the first usher board in the area. Under the leadership of Reverend S. G. Walker in the late 1930s, the Brotherhood Club and the musical choir were organized. Through the 1940s, the church was remodeled, and the addition of Sunday school rooms was completed in 1952. The dining room was added to the church, and a bus was purchased to help members without transportation to get to services. Church services began to be held every Sunday, instead of only twice a month; and

 

Whereas, before retiring in 1982, Reverend T. B. Bowser led the church to purchase property and begin a building fund program for a new sanctuary to meet the church's growing needs; and

 

Whereas, under the leadership of Reverend Osbey Roddey, the Langrum Branch Baptist Church purchased an additional five acres, totaling some twelve acres, and established a monetary goal to begin building the sanctuary in four phases. Construction for the new church facility began in September 1986 and was completed in mid-1987. The church purchased two vans, a twenty-five-passenger bus, a new organ, and additional tables and cushioned chairs for the dining hall; and

 

Whereas, in 1984, the church wrote and adopted a personnel and procedures manual and petitioned the county and state delegations for the pavement of the Langrum Branch Road. Dr. Roddey emphasized local and foreign missions and education, and an educational scholarship fund was established for members attending post-high school institutions. In 1999, a young adult choir was organized, and a storage building/garage was built on the church property. Dr. Roddey retired in 2015 after thirty-two years of faithful service, and Reverend Richard Pickering Sr. became senior pastor in 2016; and

 

Whereas, Reverend Pickering reorganized the trustee ministry, directed the updating of the sound system, created an online presence through social media, and initiated the development of the church's website, which helped the members stay connected through the COVID-19 pandemic. He established the church vision and motto of "REACHing the world for Christ as people serving people." The congregation enters its one hundred fiftieth year with a desire to continue the church's legacy with plans for improvements to the sanctuary and the addition of a community center, a daycare, affordable senior housing, and a community garden. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, celebrate the joyous occasion of the historic one hundred fiftieth anniversary of Langrum Branch Baptist Church and congratulate and honor Reverend Richard Pickering Sr. and the congregation for a century and a half of dedicated service to the York community.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Richard Pickering Sr.

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