Credit: Islamic Center of Nassau website
This article discusses what happened at the September 17th town hearing for the Islamic Center of Nassau's rezoning application for the historic Matthias Church site, with the next hearing taking place on December 3rd at 2:00 pm.
September 18th, 2025
Written by Andrea Chen
The historic 1904 landmark Matthias Church located at 2856 Jerusalem Avenue, Wantagh in a quiet, residential neighborhood is now facing extensive expansion plans by the new Islamic Center of Nassau (ICON), who purchased the church in 2019. The original 2,500 sq ft church building sits on a 38,206 square foot lot.
Originally built by the "Brush" community of freed African-American slaves and Native Americans, it gained historic landmark status in 2019. Former church members had said its roots extended as far back as the 1850s as an African Methodist Episcopal church before becoming Episcopal in 1904.
The case for the Islamic Center of Nassau Inc. was called yesterday during a Town of Hempstead Board of Appeals public hearing held at 2:00 pm in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Town Hall Plaza in Hempstead. The TOH website on case 511/25 describe the application is to "use variance to maintain storage of commercial mechanical equipment in a residence "B" district with side & rear yard variances, use variance to maintain storage of commercial trailer in a residence "B" district with side yard variance; install 6' high fence forward of building lines on Oakfield Ave. which may obstruct line of sight at neighbor's driveway., S/W cor. Jerusalem Ave. & Oakfield Ave., a/k/a 2856 Jerusalem Ave."
Muhammad Ali, an Islamic Center of Nassau trustee, spoke out at the Board of Appeals hearing and accused local residents, who are against the rezoning change to commercial, of requesting an adjournment for more time to retain counsel just for kicks and of being racist. S.E.Q.R. determination was not made and the hearing was adjourned to December 3rd, 2025 at 2:00 pm. More locals in the community plan to attend the December 3rd hearing to speak out against the rezoning in this residential area.
Credit: Islamic Center of Nassau website
When the diocese decided to sell the building in order to "reinvest any proceeds it might realize as a consequence to support ongoing ministry of the Episcopal Church in North Bellmore", the Islamic Center of Nassau offered to buy it in 2019 and closed on the building in November 2021. The official inauguration ceremony was on July 17th, 2022. They spent months in construction. According to their website regarding future plans, the Islamic Center of Nassau's vision is for a "space designed to better serve our growing community with enhanced facilities, expanded programs, and a welcoming environment for all". Renovation photos from their website show them removing pews and other historic components of the church interior.
Credit: Islamic Center of Nassau website
Credit: Islamic Center of Nassau website
Credit: Islamic Center of Nassau website
The mosque will provide religious functions and prayer services and aims to be a community center; currently, the church building can accommodate 92 people, but building expansion is set to accommodate approximately 350 Muslim families in the surrounding area, according to Ali.
Credit: Islamic Center of Nassau website
Credit: Islamic Center of Nassau website
Credit: Islamic Center of Nassau website
The livestream for yesterday's Board of Appeals hearing on this case can be watched below starting at 2:53. The next meeting has been adjourned under December 3rd, 2pm; what will the determination be on the Islamic Center of Nassau's rezoning of the Matthias Church site?