Trinity Church (Manhattan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trinity Church |
|
|---|---|
| The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity | |
Seen from Wall Street
|
|
| 40°42′29″N 74°00′44″W / 40.70806°N 74.01222°W | |
| Location | 75 Broadway, Manhattan, New York |
| Country | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church |
| Churchmanship | High Church |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | May 6, 1697 |
| Founder(s) | William III of England |
| Dedicated | May 1, 1846 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Richard Upjohn (church) Frederick Clarke Withers (reredos, altar, and rear addition) |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1839–1846 1876–1877 |
| Groundbreaking | June 3, 1841 |
| Completed | 1846 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 652 |
| Spire height | 281 feet (86 m) |
| Bells | 23 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | New York |
Trinity Church is a very old and important church in New York City. It is located on Broadway, right across from Wall Street in Lower Manhattan. This church is famous for its long history, beautiful design, and its large amount of land.
Trinity Church is part of the Episcopal Church. It follows traditional practices and helps people in the community. Besides its main church building, Trinity also has two smaller chapels: St. Paul's Chapel and the Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion on Governors Island. Many other churches in Manhattan used to be part of Trinity parish. Columbia University even started on the church's land in 1754.
The building you see today is the third church built for this parish. It was designed by Richard Upjohn in a style called Gothic Revival. The first church was built in 1698 but was destroyed in a big fire in 1776. The second church was built in 1790. The current church was built between 1839 and 1846. It was the tallest building in the United States until 1869! It was also the tallest building in New York City until 1890.
Trinity Church is next to the Trinity Churchyard, which is a burial ground. Trinity Church also owns a lot of land and buildings in New York City. The main church building is a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical site.
Contents
A Look at Trinity Church's History
In 1696, Governor Benjamin Fletcher allowed the Church of England to buy land in Lower Manhattan. They wanted to build a new church there. The church officially received its charter from King William III on May 6, 1697. The first leader of the church was William Vesey, who served for 49 years.
The First Trinity Church Building
The first Trinity Church was a simple building. It was built in 1698 on Wall Street, facing the Hudson River. People wanted a church for the Church of England in New York City. It's said that Captain William Kidd helped lift the heavy stones for the building.
In 1705, Queen Anne gave the church more land. Later, in 1709, Trinity School was started by William Huddleston. Classes were first held in the church's tower. In 1754, King's College (now Columbia University) was started near the church.
During the American Revolutionary War, New York City was controlled by the British. Church leaders had to support the British. However, some church members supported the American Revolution.
_092631.jpg)
The first church was destroyed in the Great New York City Fire of 1776. This fire burned down many buildings and left thousands of people without homes. After the war, in 1784, Samuel Provoost became the new leader of Trinity Church. The church's charter was changed to remove its loyalty to the King of England. In 1787, Provoost became the first Bishop of New York. After he became president, George Washington attended services at St. Paul's Chapel, which is part of Trinity Church. St. Paul's Chapel is the oldest public building in New York City that has been used continuously.
The Second Trinity Church Building
_Broadway_at_Wall_Street,_New_York,_N._Y.jpg)
Building the second Trinity Church started in 1788. It was officially opened in 1790. St. Paul's Chapel was used for services while the new church was being built.
The second Trinity Church faced Wall Street. It was much taller and wider than the first church. A bigger church was needed because New York City's population was growing. This church was taken down after heavy snows in the winter of 1838–39 damaged it.
The second Trinity Church was important because President Washington and other government leaders often went there. Famous people like John Jay and Alexander Hamilton were also members.
.jpg)
The Third Trinity Church Building
The third and current Trinity Church began construction in 1839 and was finished in 1846. When it was completed, its tall Gothic Revival spire, topped with a golden cross, stood out in the lower Manhattan skyline. It was a welcoming sight for ships arriving in New York Harbor.
In 1843, Trinity Church's growing community was divided. This was done to better serve the people as the city grew. A new church, Grace Church, was built to the north. Both Grace and Trinity Churches were finished in 1846.
Trinity Church was the tallest building in the United States until 1869. Its 281-foot (86 m) spire and cross made it the tallest in New York City until 1890.
In 1876–1877, a special screen behind the altar, called a reredos, and a new altar were added. These were in memory of William Backhouse Astor, Sr.. The architect Frederick Clarke Withers designed them and added a small extension to the back of the church. This altarpiece was later restored in the 21st century.
On July 10, 1976, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visited Trinity Church. They were given a symbolic "back rent" of 279 peppercorns.
Events in the 21st Century
During the September 11 attacks, many people found safety inside the church. They were escaping the huge dust cloud from the World Trade Center collapse. Some of the church pews were later replaced, but one remains as a reminder of that day. A large sycamore tree in the churchyard of St. Paul's Chapel was knocked over by falling debris. A sculptor named Steve Tobin used its roots to create a bronze sculpture called Trinity Root. It stood in front of the church until 2015 when it was moved.
Trinity Church is also near Zuccotti Park, where the Occupy Wall Street protests happened. The church offered support to the protesters. However, when protesters wanted to set up camp on church-owned land, the church leaders did not agree. On December 17, 2011, some protesters tried to enter the church's land. Police were called, and some people were arrested.
Church Architecture
The current Trinity Church building was finished in 1846. It was designed by architect Richard Upjohn in the Gothic Revival style. In 1976, the United States Department of the Interior named Trinity Church a National Historic Landmark. This was because of its important design and its role in New York City's history.
In 2018, the church began a big renovation project. The goal was to make the building easier to use and more comfortable for people. They also wanted to restore old parts like the stained glass windows and interior walls. This renovation was designed by MBB Architects.
The church had not been fully maintained for many years. The renovation brought it back to its original beauty. It also made it better for modern worship. This included fixing the architecture, adding insulation, new windows, and new organs. The church also got new lighting and hidden audio-visual equipment for services and concerts. This restoration won an award in 2022.
Church Bells
The tower of Trinity Church has 23 bells. The heaviest bell weighs about 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg).
Eight of these bells were made for the second church building. Three more bells were added later. In 1946, these bells were changed to be rung by electric motors.
In 2006, 12 new bells were added. These were the first set of 12 "change-ringing" bells in a church in the United States. The bells were installed by a company from England.
In late 2006, the sound of the bells caused some concern for people living nearby. To fix this, the church added a plywood deck and shutters inside the bell tower. When these are closed, the sound of the bells outside is much quieter. The shutters are opened for public ringing.
The bells are rung before and after the 11:15 a.m. Sunday service. They are also rung on special days, like 9/11 events, weddings, and parades.
Church Doors
Trinity Church has three impressive bronze doors. These were given by William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor to honor his father. The doors were made in 1893 by different artists. The north and east doors show scenes from church history or the Bible. The south door shows the history of New York City.
Church Art
In 2015, a priest at Trinity Church asked an artist to create an icon called Our Lady of Ferguson. In 2022, a new stained-glass window was installed above the main entrance. This window shows stories from the Bible.
Burial Grounds
Trinity Church has three burial grounds (cemeteries):
- Trinity Churchyard is around the church at Wall Street and Broadway. Many famous people are buried here, including Alexander Hamilton, Robert Fulton, and James Lawrence.
- Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum is on Riverside Drive. This is where John James Audubon and Ed Koch are buried. It is the only active cemetery left in Manhattan.
- The Churchyard of St. Paul's Chapel has memorials to important historical figures.
Church Services
Trinity Church offers many services throughout the week. These include daily prayers and communion services. The church also hosts special events like weddings and baptisms. Trinity Church provides support and community outreach.
Here are some of the regular services:
- Sunday:
- 8 am: Trinity Church, Low Eucharist
- 9 am: Trinity Church, Family Eucharist
- 11:15 am: Trinity Church, Holy Eucharist
- 8 pm: Trinity Church, Compline by Candlelight
- Monday–Friday:
- 8:15 am: Morning Prayer (online)
- 9 am: Morning Prayer (in person)
- 12:05 pm: Holy Eucharist
- 5:15 pm: Evening Prayer (online)
- Wednesday 5:30 pm: Contemplative Eucharist
Since 1993, Trinity Church has hosted the graduation ceremonies for the High School of Economics and Finance. This school is located very close to the church.
Leaders of Trinity Church
Here are some of the rectors (main leaders) of Trinity Church over the years:
- William Vesey (1697–1746)
- Henry Barclay (1746–1764)
- Samuel Auchmuty (1764–1777)
- Charles Inglis (1777–1783)
- Samuel Provoost (1784–1800)
- Benjamin Moore (1800–1816)
- John Henry Hobart (1816–1830)
- William Berrian (1830–1862)
- Morgan Dix (1862–1908)
- William Thomas Manning (1908–1921)
- Caleb Rochford Stetson (1921–1932)
- Frederic Sydney Fleming (1932–1951)
- John Heuss (1952–1966)
- John Vernon Butler, Jr. (1966–1972)
- Robert Parks (1972–1987)
- Daniel Paul Matthews (1987–2004)
- James H. Cooper (2004–2015)
- William Lupfer (2015–2020)
- Phillip A. Jackson (2020–present)
Music and Arts at Trinity Church
Trinity Church has a very active music program. They have been offering live classical and modern music concerts since 1969. The church also has several choirs that perform regularly. Trinity shares its music programs with the world through high-definition video streaming.
The main music group is The Choir of Trinity Wall Street. This is a professional group that performs during church services and in concerts. They also make recordings and go on international tours. The choir often performs with the Trinity Baroque Orchestra and NOVUS NY, which is Trinity's modern music orchestra.
Trinity Church also has a Youth Chorus, Youth Orchestra, Family Choir, and other arts programs. Visiting choirs from all over the world perform at Trinity every week.
Trinity Church's Property Holdings
Since the 1780s, the church's ownership of some land was challenged in court. However, the church won these cases many times.
Trinity Church has sold much of the land it received from Queen Anne. But it is still one of the largest landowners in New York City. It owns about 14 acres of land in Manhattan, including many commercial buildings. In 2011, the church made about $158 million from its properties. As of 2019, Trinity's investments were worth over $6 billion. This makes it one of the wealthiest churches in the world.
The church also owns the Trinity Court Building property. Its offices and a preschool used to be there. That building was taken down in 2015, and a new one was finished in 2020. The church is connected to this new building by a walkway.
In the past, Trinity Church owned many apartment buildings in New York City.
See Also
In Spanish: Iglesia de la Trinidad (Manhattan) para niños
