While reflecting upon my trip to New York City this past weekend and making note of all of the wonderful experiences, it only took me a few moments to decide that the visit to St. Paul’s Chapel was the most meaningful of all.
We had signed up for a tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, with a tour guide who’d had personal experience with the terrible tragedy. We were asked to report to a certain address, where we would meet up with the tour guide. As we had arrived early to the designated address at Broadway and Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan, we noted that St Paul’s Chapel stood directly in front of us. At first, I didn’t think much about the importance of this old chapel, sitting in the midst of the towering modern buildings. The chapel doors were opened at 10 A.M. and as we were waiting right there out front, we decided to go inside and take a look around. Almost immediately upon entering, we were struck by the memories of the days following the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and the real significance of this lovely chapel. We had somehow forgotten about the role this chapel played during that time. Here inside, all along the perimeter of the chapel stood shrines of love and dedication – letters, children’s drawings, cards and mementos – a portion of the collection of items sent from people all around the United States and the world – in the days following the horrific tragedy. This collection was just a part of the exhibit “Unwavering Spirit: Hope and Healing at Ground Zero”. With one glance at this collection, our memories of that time came flowing back. The exhibit chronicles the volunteer ministry which was created at St. Paul’s Chapel after the attacks of September 11. From September 2001 to May 2002, St. Paul’s Chapel opened its doors to recovery workers at Ground Zero – serving meals, offering beds, counseling and praying with firefighters, construction workers, police officers and others. St. Paul’s became a sanctuary of hope and healing through the volunteer efforts of more than 14,000 volunteers. Walking through the chapel and viewing the displays of love and dedication, we were transported back to the memories of those days following the 9/11 tragedy. One can not help but be filled with emotion, being in this simple yet sacred place. Tears and goose bumps accompanied me in my journey through this little chapel.
Upon further observation, I was amazed to learn that St. Paul’s has yet more significance. Opened in 1766, St. Paul’s survived the “Great Fire” of 1776 which destroyed over 500 structures in Manhattan. St. Paul’s had been considered a “chapel of ease” or an outreach chapel of Trinity Church when it first opened, for those who did not want to walk through unpaved streets to Trinity, a few blocks to the south. While Trinity was destroyed in New York’s Great Fire, St. Paul’s Chapel miraculously survived, thanks to a bucket brigade which doused the building with water. St. Paul’s is now known as “the little chapel that stood” because it survived a second brush with destruction on September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center buildings collapsed just across the street. Other than a lot of dust and debris, there was no damage to the church. Not even a broken window. Church history declares St. Paul’s was spared by a miracle sycamore tree on the north west corner of the property that was hit by debris. The tree’s root has been preserved in a bronze memorial by Steve Tokin. Historically, St. Paul’s significance is also noted by the fact that on April 30, 1789 George Washington attended services in the chapel after he took the oath of office to become the first President of the United States. In addition, the official memorial service for President George Washington was held there in 1799 as well as President James Monroe’s funeral service in 1831.
Our tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum was extremely moving. The museum, which was celebrating its one year anniversary on the day we visited, is an incredibly wonderful and fitting tribute to all who perished on that horrific day. We highly value our visit to these places. I must say that St. Paul’s Chapel most embodies the message that I’ve taken with me from the experience of my visit to these memorials. It should not be overlooked. It is a symbol of strength, stability, and endurance. And it is truly a sacred place – a place where God’s healing love brought hope and peace to the recovery workers at Ground Zero – A place where thousands of volunteers, who gave of themselves, used their gifts, their talents and abilities, and their hearts to help their fellow man. They brought comfort, care and compassion. These hard working, dedicated people personified the power of the human spirit in its finest form.
You can still feel the power and the glory of divine inspiration within the walls of this little chapel. Its beauty and significance are beyond explanation. It has stood for so long, its doors open, offering its gracious service to man in times of need. And it still stands…

~Carole Hway Carter – text
~photographs – Jim Carter, Carole Carter
~ historical information – “A Guide to St. Paul’s Chapel”, Wikipedia