Trinity Church, New York City
   L to R: Trinity Church and the World Trade Center before 9/11; Trinity Church on 9/11; sculptures on the church; consulting a treasure map in Trinity Church in National Treasure (2004). |
New York City's Trinity Church is a Wall Street house of worship featuring neo-Gothic flying buttresses, beautiful stained-glass windows, and vaulted ceilings.
History
The current Trinity Church is the third to stand on this site. In 1696, Governor Benjamin Fletcher approved the purchase of land in Lower Manhattan by the Anglican community for construction of the first church. The parish received its charter from King William III of England on May 6, 1697, which required an annual rent of one peppercorn to the English crown.
The Anglican church was constructed in 1698, with assistance from the pirate Captain Kidd. In 1705 Queen Anne of England increased the parish's land holdings to 215 acres.
During the Revolutionary War, the church's clergy were Loyalists, while the parishioners included members of the first and second Continental Congresses.
The first church building was destroyed in 1776 by fire, just six days after almost all the city's volunteer firemen had followed General Washington north. After British evacuation at war's end, the New York state legislature ratified the charter of Trinity Church in 1784, deleting the provision requiring loyalty to the King of England.
The now-Episcopalian congregation began to hold services at St. Paul's Chapel. George Washington attended thanksgiving services there after his inauguration.
Construction on the second Trinity Church building began in 1788; it was consecrated in 1790. The structure was torn down less than 50 years later, after being weakened by heavy snows during the winter of 1838-39.
The third and current Trinity Church was consecrated on May 21, 1846. A Gothic Revival structure designed by Richard Upjohn, its 280-foot spire was the highest in the city until the advent of the skyscraper.
The historic Episcopal church stood strong while office towers crumbled around it on September 11, 2001; however the historic pipe organ was severely damaged by dust and debris and had to be replaced.
The gates to the historic church have served as an impromptu memorial to the victims of 9/11, with countless tokens of remembrance left by both locals and visitors alike.
In 2004, Trinity Church was the setting for part of the film National Treasure, starring Nicolas Cage.
Trinity's three huge bronze doors were designed by Richard Morris Hunt to recall Lorenzo Ghiberti's famed doors on Florence's Baptistery. The Gothic revival interior is light and elegant.
There's a small museum at the end of the left aisle displaying historical documents (including the 1697 church charter from King William III), photographs, replicas of the Hamilton-Burr duel pistols, and other items.
Surrounding the church is a churchyard with monuments from American history including a tribute to martyrs of the American Revolution, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Fulton, and many more. Lined with benches, this makes a wonderful picnic spot on warm days.
The church runs a brief tour daily at 2pm (a 2nd Sun tour follows the 11:15am Eucharist); groups of five or more should call tel. 212/602-0872 to reserve.
Trinity holds its renowned Noonday Concert series of chamber music and orchestral concerts Mondays and Thursdays at 1pm; call tel. 212/602-0747 or visit the website for the full schedule, and to see if concert programming has resumed at St. Paul's.
| Location: | Broadway and Wall St, New York City, New York, USA |
| Phone: | 212/602-0800, 212/602-0872, or 212/602-0747 for concert information |
| Subway: | 4, 5 to Wall St |
| Hours: | Museum: Mon-Fri 9-11:45am; Sun-Fri 1-3:45pm; Sat 10am-3:45pm. |
| Services: | Mon-Fri 8:15am, 12:05, and 5:15pm (additional Healing Service Thurs at 12:30pm); Sat 8:45am; Sun 9 and 11:15am (also 8am Eucharist service at St. Paul's Chapel) |
| Cost: | Free admission and free tours; $2 suggested donation for noonday concerts |
More Information
- Trinity Wall Street - Official Website of Trinity Church
Sources: Wikipedia under GFDL, Frommer's New York City 2005, and Trinity Church. Photo credits: Trinity Church; Trinity Church; under GFDL; CageFactor.com.
