Trinity Church: the third church on this site, and the tallest building in America when it was finished
A capo di Wall Street, a Manhattan, la Trinity Church attuale è la terza chiesa costruita sullo stesso sito: la prima, del 1698, fu distrutta dal grande incendio di New York del 1776; la seconda, costruita tra il 1788 e il 1790, fu demolita nel 1839 dopo essere stata indebolita dal peso della neve in un inverno particolarmente severo; l’edificio attuale, costruito tra il 1839 e il 1846 su progetto dell’architetto Richard Upjohn, fu consacrato il giorno dell’Ascensione, il 1° maggio 1846, dal vescovo episcopale di New York. In stile neogotico, considerato un punto di riferimento del Gothic Revival americano, con una guglia alta 281 piedi sormontata da una croce dorata, la chiesa fu l’edificio più alto degli Stati Uniti dal 1846 fino al 1869, quando fu superata dalla chiesa di St. Michael a Chicago, e l’edificio più alto di New York City fino al 1890. Nel cimitero adiacente sono sepolti numerosi personaggi della prima storia americana, tra cui Alexander Hamilton, morto il 12 luglio 1804, il giorno successivo al duello con Aaron Burr, e la moglie Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, che gli sopravvisse fino al 1854; vi riposano anche Robert Fulton, inventore del primo battello a vapore commercialmente riuscito, l’ufficiale navale James Lawrence, autore del celebre motto “Don’t give up the ship”, la spia rivoluzionaria Hercules Mulligan e lo statista Albert Gallatin. La parrocchia divenne, grazie a una concessione di terreno di 215 acri lungo il lato ovest di Manhattan fatta dalla regina Anna nel 1705, per secoli il maggiore proprietario terriero dell’isola, utilizzando parte di quella ricchezza per contribuire alla fondazione del King’s College, oggi Columbia University; secondo fonti recenti, il patrimonio complessivo della parrocchia si aggira oggi intorno ai 6 miliardi di dollari, concentrato in immobili nel quartiere di Hudson Square. Durante gli attacchi dell’11 settembre 2001, la Trinity Church sopravvisse strutturalmente ma non rimase del tutto illesa: un grande platano nel cimitero fu distrutto dai detriti, in seguito commemorato dalla scultura in bronzo “Trinity Root” di Steve Tobin, e l’organo a canne fu danneggiato da polvere e fumo, restaurato solo di recente; il ruolo più noto di centro di soccorso per i soccorritori spettò invece a St. Paul’s Chapel, una cappella satellite della stessa parrocchia situata più vicina a Ground Zero. La chiesa resta oggi una parrocchia episcopale attiva, meta turistica tra le più visitate di New York, con un notevole aumento di interesse legato alla popolarità del musical “Hamilton” e alla tomba dello stesso Hamilton.
About Trinity Church
At the head of Wall Street in Manhattan, the present Trinity Church is the third church built on this site: the first, from 1698, was destroyed in the Great New York City Fire of 1776; the second, built between 1788 and 1790, was demolished in 1839 after being weakened by heavy snow loads during a particularly severe winter; the current building, constructed between 1839 and 1846 to a design by architect Richard Upjohn, was consecrated on Ascension Day, 1 May 1846, by the Episcopal Bishop of New York. In Gothic Revival style, widely considered a landmark of the American Gothic Revival movement, with a spire 281 feet tall topped by a gilded cross, the church was the tallest building in the United States from 1846 until 1869, when it was surpassed by St. Michael’s Church in Chicago, and the tallest building in New York City until 1890. In the adjoining churchyard lie numerous figures from early American history, including Alexander Hamilton, who died on 12 July 1804, the day after his duel with Aaron Burr, and his wife Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, who outlived him until 1854; also buried there are Robert Fulton, developer of the first commercially successful steamboat, naval officer James Lawrence, remembered for the phrase “Don’t give up the ship,” Revolutionary War spy Hercules Mulligan, and statesman Albert Gallatin. The parish became, thanks to a 215-acre land grant along Manhattan’s west side made by Queen Anne in 1705, the island’s largest landowner for centuries, using part of that wealth to help found King’s College, now Columbia University; according to recent sources, the parish’s overall assets today stand at around $6 billion, concentrated in real estate in the Hudson Square neighborhood. During the 11 September 2001 attacks, Trinity Church survived structurally but was not entirely unscathed: a large sycamore tree in the churchyard was destroyed by falling debris, later commemorated by the bronze sculpture “Trinity Root” by Steve Tobin, and the pipe organ was damaged by dust and smoke, only recently restored; the better-known role as a relief station for first responders belonged instead to St. Paul’s Chapel, a satellite chapel of the same parish located closer to Ground Zero. The church remains an active Episcopal parish today, among New York’s most visited tourist sites, with notably increased interest tied to the popularity of the musical “Hamilton” and Hamilton’s own grave.
Key facts
- 1839-1846: the third church on this site built, designed by architect Richard Upjohn
- Tallest building in the US (1846-1869) and in New York City (until 1890)
- Alexander Hamilton’s grave, alongside Robert Fulton and other early American figures
- 1705: Queen Anne’s 215-acre land grant makes Trinity Manhattan’s largest landowner for centuries
- 2001: survives 9/11 structurally, though a churchyard tree and the organ suffer damage
- Still an active Episcopal parish, boosted by “Hamilton” musical tourism
History
Trinity’s third rebuilding on the same site, after fire destroyed the first church and snow load collapsed the second, reflects the sheer duration of continuous worship at the head of Wall Street since 1698. Its transformation from a parish into one of Manhattan’s largest private landowners, rooted in a single 1705 royal grant, gave it a financial trajectory unusual among American churches, one that continues to shape its role in Lower Manhattan real estate today.
What you see
A Gothic Revival spire, once the tallest structure in America, rises above the churchyard where Alexander Hamilton and other early American figures are buried, the bronze “Trinity Root” sculpture marking the site of a tree lost on 11 September 2001. The church’s brownstone facade closes the view up Wall Street, a landmark unchanged in silhouette since 1846 even as skyscrapers rose around it.
Practical information
- Opening hours: generally open daily outside services; check current hours before visiting
- Address: 89 Broadway, New York, NY, United States
Getting there
Trinity Church stands at the head of Wall Street in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District, easily reached by subway. GPS: 40°42′29″N, 74°00′44″W.
Nearby
- Wall Street — the historic financial thoroughfare beginning at the church
- St. Paul’s Chapel — the affiliated colonial-era chapel a few blocks north
- New York Stock Exchange — a short walk from the church
Sources
- Wikipedia — “Trinity Church (Manhattan)” (en.wikipedia.org)
- Trinity Church Wall Street — official site, Visit & History pages (trinitychurchnyc.org)
- The Bowery Boys: New York City History — “Trinity Church: anchor of Wall Street, New York’s landlord”
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