Parish History

The history of St. Augustine's Parish goes back over 100 years . Since it is so extensive we have prepared a brief chronological review. The information for this chronology is from the book Saint Augustine's Parish, A Centennial History (1892-1992) and is based on the articles written by Mary E. McGahan and Joseph G.E. Hopkins. For more information and pictures, please read this interesting and informative book.

1892	Michael Augustine Corrigan, Archbishop of New York, establishes the parish of Saint Augustine, Larchmont, New York to serve the growing community and the mostly Catholic servants working in Larchmont.
	First Mass in the new St. Augustine's church on the northeast corner of Beach Avenue and Linden Ave. Over $5,000 of the contributions for the church was raised from non-Catholics in the community.
	Father Edmund Power appointed pastor
1906	Father Patrick Morris named pastor
1912	John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York, dedicated St. Augustine's first parochial school. The granite school building located at approximately the same site of the current school auditorium contained four classrooms on the second floor and a school hall on the first floor. The school was staffed by the Sisters of St.Dominic of Newburgh.
1914	Women's Suffrage Rally held in St. Augustine's School Hall.
1916	Ladies Guild of St. Augustine's Parish (predecessor to the current Ladies Auxiliary) active in parish support.
1919	Father James Brady appointed pastor
1921	St Augustine's expanding congregation was too large for the Beach Avenue church which could only seat 250 people. The school was expanded to permit Masses to be said there until a new church could be built. St Augustine's parishioner base was approaching 700.
	Show performances were held at St John's Parish House for the benefit of St. Augustine's parish.
1922	Beach Ave. church and rectory closed. Masses now celebrated in St. Augustine's School Hall. A new Rectory was built on Monroe Ave adjacent to the Dominican Academy, a private school which was staffed by the same order of nuns assigned to St Augustine School.
1925-26	The Amory Estate which was on Cherry Avenue and extended from Larchmont Avenue to Monroe Avenue was acquired as a site for the new church. The Amory home which is now the current rectory was moved down Cherry Avenue to make room for the church.
1926	Cornerstone for the now current church is laid. Church is to be 14th Century Gothic in style. The original design prepared by Thomas Dunn looks very much like the present church except that it included "a morning chapel to seat approximately 75 people". Once again supported by their non-Catholic brethren, funds are raised to build the new church.
1928	After 19 months of construction the new church was dedicated on Sunday Morning May 21, 1928 by Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop of New York. The Larchmont Times reported "The Prince of the Church was received with all the pomp and splendor befitting the dignity of so high a personage. All Larchmont will share the pride of the congregation of St. Augustine's in the acquisition of the new church."
1936	Father Thomas Deegan D.D. begins his 28 year tenure as pastor
1939	In furtherance of his plan to build a new school, Father Deegan acquired from Laura Albee, widow of Edward Albee, the land between the Larchmont Library and the 1912 school.
1940	Ground-breaking for construction of the current school building which was to be of Gothic architecture conforming with that of the church. Msgr. Deegan's plans for a girls high school on Larchmont Avenue across from the church were never completed.
1941	Archbishop (yet to be cardinal) Francis Spellman, Archbishop of New York, dedicates the new school building which was designed to accommodate 520 students
1941-45	Many parishioners served in the various armed services during World War II - those listed on the Memorial Plaque next to Our Lady's Altar as having made the ultimate sacrifice are: Charles J. Boyle JR., John E. Brady, Wilbur E. Buckingham, James A Callaghan, Pasquale Carino, Charles E. Dolan, John Ehret, Kenneth Foster, Joseph E. Kane, George W. McElroy JR., Hamilton E. Morris, Fred P. Motz JR., Luke J. Murtha, Frank J. Roma, Vito Sabato, Joseph J. Sganga, Gerard J. Schaefer, Richard J. Shea, Vincent Stouter, Andrew E. Tuck III, George Walker and Anne Kathleen (Kay) Cullen.   Read more about Kay Cullen (pictured).
1943	Father Vincent McShane appointed as an assistant priest. Father McShane remained at Saint Augustine's for 26 years.
	Larchmont Catholic Library established
1949	SS. John and Paul parish established
1951	Three young parishioners lost their lives in Korea during the war between North and South Korea. These names are listed on the Memorial Plaque next to the altar of the Sacred Heart: Mario DeSenso, William M. Hickey JR. and Francis H Mac Donnell.
1962	Annex to School built to relieve overcrowding - over 675 children enrolled in the school
1964	Monsignor John J. Corrigan appointed pastor. Msgr. Corrigan's plans to build a new convent and a new rectory with parish meeting rooms were never completed.
1965-75	Many parishioners were once again called to serve in the armed forces during the war between North and South Vietnam . Those who died are listed on the Memorial Plaque with the Korean casualties they are: Anthony P. Agar, John P. Batterson JR., Daniel M. Brown, Ernest J Hill, Daniel J. Keating, James J. O'Donnell and Richard A. Western
1968	After formation of study committees and frequent lengthy debates among parishioners, a Parish Council Constitution was approved. Members of the parish elected to the first Parish Council.
	Father John K. Daly appointed pastor
1969	Parish Council recommends that a "professional" Director of Religious Education be retained. School enrollment was approximately 390
1973	Dominican Sisters of Newburgh end their over sixty years of service to the School
1974	Father William V. Reynolds appointed pastor
1975	Father Joseph DeSanto joins the parish. Father DeSanto assisted at St. Augstine's for 32 years.
1976	St. Augustine's parochial school is closed
1980	Seniors Program initiated with Sister Josephine Rooney R.S.H.M. as director
1986	Monsignor Walter F. Kenny appointed pastor;   Sister Rita Halligan I.H.M. becomes director of Seniors Program
1987	Sister Mary Gallagher, S.C. appointed Director of Religious Education and holds this position until 1999
1990	Sanctuary of the church renovated to conform with the guidelines of the Second Vatican Council.
1992	John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, joins the parish in the celebration of its 100th anniversary
2000	Cancer Sewing Group celebrates its 55th anniversary.
	The Parish celebrates Jubilee 2000 with a colorful procession through parts of the Manor followed by Mass in the Church.
2001	The Parish Council presented a new silver ciborium to the Parish as a memorial gift in honor of those parishioners who were lost in the World Trade Center Disaster on September 11th: Helen Crossin-Kittle and her unborn child Patricia Helen Kittle, John T. McErlean, Jr. and Chris T. Orgielewicz. Read more about activities at St Augustine on 9/11.   On September 11, 2002, a plaque was installed in the Church in memory of those from the Larchmont community lost at the World Trade Center. Read More Information.
2003	Parish celebrates the seventy-fifth anniversary of the dedication of St. Augustine's Church on Larchmont Avenue.
2004	The Parish joins with Monsignor Walter F. Kenny and Father Joseph DeSanto in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood.
2007	Monsignor Thomas R. Kelly appointed pastor.
2008	Successful Bicentennial Campaign raises funds for major renovations of the Church and School buildings.
2011	Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, visits the parish to dedicate the school auditorium in honor of Monsignor Walter F. Kenny.