Visiting Trinity Church

74 Trinity PI. (corner of Broadway at Wall St.).

To appreciate how quickly and relatively recently New York City has grown, consider the fact that Trinity Church, upon its completion in 1846, was the tallest building in Manhattan. Today its graceful Gothic spire appears quaint, framed as it is by the tunnel of Wall Street skyscrapers that extend to the East River. Yet a feeling of tranquillity continues to reign here, in the cool vaulted interior of the church and in its gated churchyard, where lie the remains of New Yorkers dating back to 1681.

A Bit of History
An Episcopal church, Trinity was founded by a charter granted by King William III in 1697. Among the influential locals who contributed to its construction was William Kidd—the legendary Captain Kidd—who lived nearby at Hanover Square before being hanged for piracy in London in 1701. The first church building, completed in 1698, was devoured in the great fire
of 1776. The second building's roof collapsed in 1839. The present edifice, designed by Richard Upjohn, has fared better, surviving even the September 11,2001, attacks (just a block away) with only the loss of some of its mortar.

Visit
The building is made of red sandstone. Its spire rises 280 feet and contains 10 bells,
three of which date to 1797. The elaborately wrought bronze doors were designed by Richard Morris Hunt, architect of the Metropolitan Museum and the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Inside, note the stained-glass windows behind the marble altar; they were designed by Upjohn. A small museum presents exhibits on Trinity Church's history and its relationship to the city (open year-round Mon-Fri & holidays 9am-ll:45am & 1pm-3:45pm,Sat I0 am-3:45pm,Sun lpm-3:45pm).
Though seemingly frozen in time, Trinity's cemetery is in fact the only facility in Manhat­tan still taking bodies. Fortunately, you don't need a reservation to browse. It's a lovely space, with dozens of crooked and eroded tombstones shaded by 100-year-old oaks and elms. Famous internees include Alexander Hamilton and John Jacob Astor.

Open year-round Mon-Fri 7am-6pm (churchyard until 4pm)

guided tours daily 2pm;

classical music concerts Thu 1pm.

212-602-0800
www.trinitywallstreet.org