Rossville AME Zion Church

Rossville AME Zion Church Founded in 1850, this predominately African American church is listed on the National, State and New York City Registers of Historic Places.

Regular worship services are held each Sunday at 11:00AM; Sunday School is at 10:00AM. Rossville AME Zion Church was founded by free people of African descent in 1850 to be the center of community life for a thriving African American Community that became known as Sandy Ground. Free blacks came to the South Shore of Staten Island, New York seeking a new life. 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th generation des

cendants of the founders still worship at Rossville. While the community has undergone tremendous change, people still come to Rossville virtually, during the pandemic, seeking a new way of life.

Join us for our annual Family & Friends Day!
05/25/2026

Join us for our annual Family & Friends Day!

A proud moment for Rossville AME Zion Church when Dr. Maya Angelou visited and addressed us when our members Sylvia Mood...
05/20/2026

A proud moment for Rossville AME Zion Church when Dr. Maya Angelou visited and addressed us when our members Sylvia Moody D'Alessandro and Elmore Taylor (who was President of the SGHS at the time) and SGHS Board member Julie Moody are pictured.

When Dr. Maya Angelou came to the Sandy Ground Historical Society as a keynote speaker for Black History Month, it was a powerful reminder that Sandy Ground’s story reaches far beyond one community.

This photo captures a meaningful moment with Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro, her daughter Juile Moody Lewis, and Elmo Tayler during that special visit. The photo with Maya Angelo is courtesy of the Staten Island advance

Sandy Ground’s history speaks to freedom, faith, family, resilience, and the authentic history of one of America’s earliest Free Black communities. That is why the work of preserving and teaching this story matters so deeply.

Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro was born and raised in Sandy Ground, and she continues to love, worship, serve, teach, and preserve history in the community she calls home.

For years, Sylvia has been the voice and face of the Sandy Ground Historical Society, helping welcome visitors, educate families, and share Sandy Ground’s legacy with people from near and far.

In recognition of her lifelong contributions, Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella proclaimed May 22 as “Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro Day” in Staten Island.

This photo reminds us that when authentic history is preserved and shared, it has the power to inspire generations — from the people who lived it, to the people who come to learn from it.

Who is someone who helped you appreciate history, culture, or community legacy?








05/18/2026

Congratulations to our member Angelle LaBoard-Dixon for graduating with her Masters from Marymount University in Arlington, VA.👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🙏🏾

05/18/2026

The Rossville AME Zion family welcome our Pastor, Rev. Charles Washington & his family, back for another conference year. We press on in His service.

We had a PHENOMENAL time at Columbia University's School of Public Health by presenting Untold Stories of Sandy Ground a...
05/14/2026

We had a PHENOMENAL time at Columbia University's School of Public Health by presenting Untold Stories of Sandy Ground and the Rossville AME Zion Church.

We're getting ready for the next generation by training young ushers in our church.
05/14/2026

We're getting ready for the next generation by training young ushers in our church.

We continue to be proud of lifelong member of our church.
05/14/2026

We continue to be proud of lifelong member of our church.

As we continue our countdown to Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro Day on May 22, we honor one of the most powerful parts of Sylvia’s legacy: her role as a teacher and keeper of authentic history.

In this photo, courtesy of the Staten Island Advance Sylvia, she is doing what she has done for generations — sitting with young people, sharing knowledge, and helping them understand the deep history of Sandy Ground.

As a descendant of Moses Harris, and as someone born, raised, and still worshiping in Sandy Ground, Sylvia’s connection to this community is personal, ancestral, and lifelong.

Her work has helped make sure the story of Sandy Ground is not only preserved, but taught with pride — to children, families, visitors, researchers, and communities far beyond Staten Island.

In recognition of her lifelong contributions, Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella proclaimed May 22 as “Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro Day” on Staten Island.

Over the next few days, we will continue celebrating Sylvia’s life, leadership, teaching, and the community she has helped strengthen.

What do you hope young people learn from the life, legacy, and work of Sylvia Moody D’Alessandro?

We had a glorious time at the Staten Island Advance's Women of Achievement luncheon.
05/09/2026

We had a glorious time at the Staten Island Advance's Women of Achievement luncheon.

...more happy memories of Resurrection Day 😊
04/06/2026

...more happy memories of Resurrection Day 😊

Address

584 Bloomingdale Road
Staten Island, NY
10309

Telephone

(718) 356-0200

Website

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