St. Paul’s Chapel

New York City is a living, breathing thing, always evolving and changing. There are, however, some places that survive unchallenged and unchanged throughout the city’s history.

St. Paul's Chapel - Photo: Wikicommons

St. Paul's Chapel depicted in 1840 - Image: NYPL Digital Archive

Completed in 1766, St. Paul’s Chapel is the oldest surviving church in Manhattan. It was constructed in a wheat field 5 blocks north of city lines to serve the Trinity Church congregation that was expanding.

Image: NYPL Digital Archive

Thanks to a bucket brigade St. Paul’s Chapel survived the Great Fire of 1776 which destroyed around 25 percent of the city. Trinity Church, however, didn’t make it. Therefore, until it was rebuilt in 1790 St. Paul’s became the parish's main location.

George Washington's pew - Photo: NYPL Digital Archives

Did you know that George Washington worshiped there? In 1789 after he took the oath of office to become our first President, he made his way up to St. Paul’s to attend a service. His pew is still there today.

St. Paul's circa 1900 - Photo: NYPL Digital Archives

I absolutely LOVE this shot with the old US Post Office to the right. It was demolished in 1939 and City Hall Park now extends south to where it once stood. - Photo: Library of Congress

St. Paul's circa 1930 - Photo: NYPL Digital Archive

St. Paul's circa 1965 - Photo: NYPL Digital Archive

St. Paul's Chapel gained notoriety after the attacks of 9/11. It survived unscathed, some say a miracle, and served as a place of refuge for the volunteers and workers helping to restore downtown.

St. Paul's Chapel while the World Trade Center was under construction. - Photo: Library of Congress

Photo: Chris Baker

Photo: Chris Baker

Today the chapel is open to the public and is certainly worth visiting. To me, it's kind of a magical place that can transport you instantly back in time to New York City's very beginning.