At Broadway and Wall Street in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District, Trinity Church is an Episcopal church known for its Gothic Revival design and historic churchyard. The building standing today was designed by Richard Upjohn and completed in 1846, the third church on this site. Step inside to see the stained glass and wooden pews, then walk through the cemetery, where Alexander Hamilton and other notable Americans are buried. The church also has pipe organ music, offering a quieter stop among the surrounding streets and towers.
Three churches on one site
Trinity’s history reaches back to the 17th century. The congregation received its charter from King William III in 1697, and the first church building was erected soon afterward. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1776, which swept through New York during the Revolutionary War.
A second church opened in 1790. George Washington attended it, but structural damage led to its demolition in the 1830s. The present building is the third on the site. Designed by Richard Upjohn, it was completed in 1846. Its long history ties the church to both colonial New York and the city’s growth as a modern financial center.
The Gothic Revival building
Upjohn designed Trinity in the Gothic Revival style. Its pointed forms and tall spire once made it a defining feature of the city skyline. At 281 feet, it was New York’s tallest building from its completion in 1846 until 1869. Today, nearby skyscrapers rise far above it, but the churchyard leaves open views of the building from the surrounding streets.
Inside, stained glass windows and wooden pews give the church a different scale from the towers outside. The church also has pipe organ music. If music is part of your reason for visiting, look for details of services and performances on the church’s website.
The churchyard and its graves
The cemetery surrounds the church on three sides and contains the graves of prominent figures from American history. Alexander Hamilton, the first US secretary of the treasury, is buried here, as is his wife, Elizabeth Schuyler. Other notable burials include Francis Lewis and Robert Fulton.
Take time to walk through the grounds and read the memorials. The churchyard is part of an active place of worship, so move through it with care and respect. Trinity Church also served as a place of refuge after the September 11 attacks, when debris filled the air in Lower Manhattan.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is Trinity Church in New York City?
It is at 89 Broadway, at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District.
Who is buried in Trinity Church’s cemetery?
Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Elizabeth Schuyler, are buried there, along with other notable Americans, including Francis Lewis and Robert Fulton.
When was the current Trinity Church building completed?
The present church, designed by Richard Upjohn, was completed in 1846. It is the third church building on the site.
What can you see inside Trinity Church?
The interior has stained glass windows and wooden pews. The church also has pipe organ music.
