Trinity Church, Manhattan

Trinity Church is an Episcopalian parish in lower Manhattan that dates back to the 1690s. The first church was built in 1698 and lasted till the Great New York City Fire in 1776. The second church was built from 1788 to 1790 and became very significant politically since many of the federal government officials (like President George Washington) worshipped there. After damage from snow storms, the weakened building was torn down in the winter of 1838/1839. The third and final (so far) church began construction in 1839 and was completed in 1846. It was visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976 and served as a shelter during the 9/11 attacks, since the World Trade Center is only a few blocks away.

Trinity Church, NYC

As with many old churches, repairs never quite finish and we were unable to see the main body of the church. We spent some time looking around outside.

A blocked entrance

The spire is 281 feet tall. It was the tallest building in America from 1846 to 1869, when a church in Chicago was built even taller. In New York, it was unsurpassed in height until the building of the Brooklyn Bridge's stone tower in 1883.

Spire

The spire is decorated with a clock and some apostles.

Apostles 

The church is noteworthy also for the cemetery, which has many famous people buried in it.

Church and cemetery

The most ostentatious memorial is to John Watts, a lawyer who represented New York in the House of Representatives in the early 1800s.

John Watts memorial

Nearby are the graves of Alexander Hamilton and his wife Elizabeth.

Hamilton grave

Robert Fulton, inventor of the steam boat, is also buried in the graveyard.

Robert Fulton grave

The cemetery also has the Astor Cross, a tall memorial to socialite Caroline Astor.

Astor Cross

Jacob

Noah

The whole interior of the church is not cut off from visitors. A small chapel in the front is open, though we came just as they were having services. We didn't get to see much but we did light a candle and say a prayer (for Christian unity, naturally).

Inside the church

Saying some prayers

I was bummed that we didn't really see the inside of the church, but maybe on another visit to the Big Apple.