Brief History

The Barry Ave AME Zion Church, established in 1859, was founded by several community members in response to a growing need for a local place of worship. Before the church’s construction, religious gatherings took place in private homes, often hosted by Robert Purdy - the main founder of the church - or at Dinah Hicks' residence.

Founder History

Robert Purdy, the main founder of the Barry Ave AME Zion Church, was a formerly enslaved man from Louisiana who escaped to Scarsdale, New York, where slavery had been abolished. There, Purdy married Lena Landrine, an Indigenous woman, and together they purchased five acres of land in 1858 for $270.

Purdy established a successful farm on this land, raising bees and producing honey. Robert and Lena are both buried in the African American Cemetery in Rye, marking their lasting connection to the area. Purdy’s farm remained in his family for five generations until it was sold in 2011. That same year, the historic Purdy home was demolished following the Scarsdale Committee for Historic Preservation’s (CHP) decision to deny its historical preservation application.