St. Paul’s Chapel

Why go

The chapel’s Georgian proportions make a useful contrast with the surrounding Lower Manhattan towers. Built in 1766, it survived the fire that destroyed the first Trinity Church a decade later. Its Broadway-side statue and memorial give an exterior visit specific details to notice even when a visit inside has not been confirmed.

What to look for

• An oak statue of Saint Paul appears on the Broadway side.
• The Richard Montgomery monument stands below the east window.
• A classical portico and octagonal tower define the chapel’s exterior.

The full story

St. Paul’s was built as a chapel-of-ease for Trinity parishioners who found the main church inconvenient to reach. In 1766, it stood some distance north of the growing port city, a striking contrast with its dense urban surroundings today. Thomas McBean designed it and Andrew Gautier built it, using Manhattan mica-schist with brownstone corner details. The chapel’s domestic proportions distinguish it from the larger Trinity Church. Its model was the Georgian church tradition associated with London’s St Martin-in-the-Fields. George Washington worshipped here on his inauguration day in 1789 and continued attending while New York was the national capital. The chapel also survived the 1776 fire that burned much of the city. These connections make its modest dimensions meaningful: an institution built for neighborhood convenience became a witness to events much larger than its original purpose.

Useful to know

• Confirm current chapel access with Trinity before planning an interior visit.
• Combine the exterior with the nearby World Trade Center area.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.