A survivor and witness, Trinity Church soars as the soul of lower Manhattan

"“to meet people where they are, to help them grow in faith, to be part of a community and to serve our neighbors,” church leadership said during a recent tour."

"The current structure is the third church built on the site after the original church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1776. While the main church burned, nearby St. Paul's Chapel survived thanks to a bucket brigade pulling water from the Hudson River. Trinity still preserves one of the original firefighting buckets in its archives - a reminder of the church's resilience through centuries of upheaval."

"Interest in Hamilton has surged in recent years, thanks in part to Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical “Hamilton,” bringing visitors from around the world to pay tribute to the Founding Father and his wife, Eliza. Hamilton's ties to Trinity began long before his death. While studying at King's College - now Columbia University - he interacted with Trinity clergy who served as chaplains to the school. Later, Hamilton became a member of Trinity Church, and several of his children were baptized there."

"Trinity Church also shares a deep connection with George Washington. After Washington's inauguration at Federal Hall, he and members of the new government walked down Wall Street to St. Paul's Chapel for a prayer service led by Trinity clergy."

Trinity Church has stood in Lower Manhattan for more than three centuries as a spiritual home and a witness to American history. The church continues serving its community with a mission to meet people where they are, help them grow in faith, and serve neighbors. The Gothic Revival building completed in 1846 was once the tallest building in the United States. The current structure is the third church on the site after the original church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1776, while St. Paul’s Chapel survived through a bucket brigade using water from the Hudson River. The grounds include Alexander Hamilton’s gravesite, and Hamilton’s family remained active in the congregation. Trinity also connects to George Washington through a prayer service at St. Paul’s Chapel after his inauguration.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles