St. Paul's Chapel — Attraction in New York

We visited Ground Zero about 8 to 9 months after 9/11/01. We were walking the perimeter seeing all the pictures loved ones posted of the missing on the black fencing surrounding the site. My kids were young approx 7 and 3. My wife at one broke down and was crying when someone reached out to her and asked if she would like to step inside to console her. It so happened that we were right outside this church and we were welcomed in. They were using the inside of the church for those working at ground zero so they could rest, eat and prepair to go back out again. Workers were sleeping in the pews. I remember almost every inch of the interior had signs, cards and banners from people all over the world thanking those selfless people working on the site. It was such a moving and beautiful site to behold amongst an area that brought to mind terror and suffering of so many. They had a platform at the time that ran alongside the church elevated so people could sneak a look at the work being performed in the pit of ground zero. The line was tremendously long and we never even thought of waiting in it. The people in the church asked us if we wanted to see the site and we agreed. They took us out the back door through the cemetary and up onto the platform. Goosebumps formed everywhere as we peered into this site of one the worse terrorist incidents on American soil. We took no pictures that day because we weren't there to do that. We saw so much more that is engrained in our minds forever. The love, courageous men and women and selfless people all there for a common cause. America is great and that day we got a big taste of that greatness. We have visited this church numerous times since on our travels to...

St. Paul's Chapel is the oldest public building in continuous use in New York City, and was built on land granted by Anne, Queen of Great Britain, designed by architect Thomas McBean and built by master craftsman Andrew Gautier.

Upon completion in 1766, it was the tallest building in New York City. It stood in a field some distance from the growing port city to the south and was built as a "chapel-of-ease" for parishioners who thought the Mother Church inconvenient to access.

Built of Manhattan mica-schist with brownstone quoins, St. Paul's has the classical portico, boxy proportions and domestic details that are characteristic of Georgian churches such as James Gibbs' London church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, after which it was modelled. Its octagonal tower rises from a square base and is topped by a replica of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates (c. 335 BC).

Inside, the chapel's simple elegant hall has the pale colors, flat ceiling and cut glass chandeliers reminiscent of contemporary domestic interiors. In contrast to the awe-inspiring[opinion] interior of Trinity Church, this hall and its ample gallery were endowed with a cozy and comfortable character in order to encourage attendance.

On the Broadway side of the chapel's exterior is an oak statue of the church's namesake, Saint Paul, carved in the American Primitive style. Below the east window is the monument to Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, who died at the Battle of Quebec (1775) during the American Revolutionary War. In the spire, the first bell is inscribed "Mears London, Fecit 1797". The second bell, made in 1866, was added in celebration of the chapel's 100th...

St. Paul’s Chapel, part of the Trinity Wall Street parish, is an enduring gem of Manhattan, nestled comfortably in the shadows of towering skyscrapers. It stands as the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan and a living testament to New York City’s rich history.

Affectionately known as "The Little Chapel That Stood," St. Paul’s gained a new chapter in its storied life following the events of September 11, 2001. Remarkably unscathed as the Twin Towers fell nearby, it served as a sanctuary and relief center for the tireless workers at Ground Zero. Within its hallowed walls, rescue workers found solace and strength, its pews lined with boots of the weary, its floors a bed for the briefest of respites.

The chapel’s interior, graced with colonial elegance, reflects centuries of American faith and resilience. It is where George Washington worshiped on his Inauguration Day, a fact memorialized by his pew still present within the chapel, and where countless New Yorkers have found peace in the midst of the bustling city.

Today, St. Paul's Chapel continues to be a beacon of hope and a symbol of the indomitable spirit of the city. Visitors are embraced by its serenity and moved by the exhibits that recount its role in the city’s darkest and brightest days. It is a place where history is palpable, and the present can commune...