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Pastor:  Rev. Laurie Ann McNeill
Director of Music: Dr. Gaylord W. French

Sexton: Stefan Sommers

Laurie Ann McNeill constantly strives to integrate her love of tradition with a Christian discipleship that is relevant in today’s world.  A 12^th generation Presbyterian, Laurie was born and raised in Aberdeen, North Carolina.  She received an Associates degree from Peace College in Raleigh, NC before graduating in 1982 from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem with a B.S. degree in Business.

Working after college, Laurie quickly realized that she needed to pursue an interest in ministry that had been developing since high school.  She entered Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ where she earned a Masters of Divinity degree.

Rev. McNeill was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in 1989 when she became associate pastor of East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church in Stroudsburg, PA.  In 1991, she was called as designated pastor at Presbyterian Church of White Haven, PA where she served until becoming interim pastor in 1997 at First Presbyterian Church in Oceanside, NY for one year.

Since 1998, Laurie has been the pastor of Glenwood Presbyterian Church in Glenwood Landing, NY, where she initiated or guided a number of outreach programs that provided opportunities for the congregation to practice the Biblical concept of hospitality.  Some of these include hosting young people from Illinois, North Carolina and Indiana, pastors from Cuba, and the Cuban Ambassador to the United Nations, as well as an annual concert that benefits children who lost a parent on September 11, 2001.

Laurie’s commitment to advancing relationships between churches and the larger community is evident through her presbytery involvement.  She draws on a wealth of experience having served as moderator, commissioner to General Assembly, and chair or member of many committees in two presbyteries.

Dr. French's career began in upstate New York studying with Harry S. Mason, Professor of Sacred Music at Auburn Seminary.  He received a B.S. degree in Voice and a Master's in Music Literature from the Eastman School of Music.  In Washington D.C. Gaylord studied voice with Todd Duncan and was a conductor for the U.S. Navy Band and the Sea Chanters.   He completed his academic preparation with a doctorate in music from Indiana University concentrating in Choral Conducting under Julius Herford.

Following appointments in Kentucky and Michigan where he taught voice, theory and piano and staged and directed several Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, Gaylord and his talented wife Marlene settled in Montclair with daughters Christin and Robyn.  He continued his commitment to music education, serving on the faculty of several area colleges as well as coaching private students in voice and keyboard and serving as accompanist for a wide variety of professional musical groups.   Perhaps some will remember Gaylord's outstanding performance as the energetic Director of the Newark Boys Choir, taking them on tour to Japan, and commissioning and recording the group's first album, "Voice of Jazz."

Gaylord has also served as the music director for Trinity Academy in Caldwell, NJ and for the Essex Chorale, in addition to his integral role at Central and continuing his private coaching.