St. Paul's Chapel

In front of you stands the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan that is still in use. St. Paul's Chapel, part of Trinity Church's parish, was built between 1764 and 1766, when this area was still the edge of town.

1A survivor

Its Georgian style, with a columned portico and steeple, recalls the London churches of the day. It is traditionally credited to Thomas McBean, although some recent studies point to another architect. In 1776, the Great Fire that destroyed a quarter of the city, including the first Trinity Church, left it standing.

2Washington's pew

On April 30, 1789, after taking the oath at Federal Hall, George Washington came here with members of Congress to attend a service. While New York remained the capital, he kept worshipping at this chapel. His pew was marked out for generations.

On September 11, 2001, just steps from the Twin Towers, the chapel did not lose a single pane of glass.

A large sycamore in the churchyard took much of the falling debris. For the next nine months the chapel became a refuge for firefighters, police officers and volunteers, who slept in its pews and ate here between shifts. The sculptor Steve Tobin later cast the roots of that tree in bronze.

3What to look for

• The figure of St. Paul on the Broadway facade, a replica of the original wooden carving, now kept indoors.
• The 18th-century headstones in the churchyard.
• The view to the west: One World Trade Center, where the Twin Towers once stood.