Financial District in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Queen Elizabeth II
Photographed By Craig Baker, June 4, 2022
1. Queen Elizabeth II Marker
On this spot stood Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her gracious visit, 9 July 1976.
His Royal Highness the Prince Philip stood nearby.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Notable Events • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is July 9, 1976.
Location. 40° 42.473′ N, 74° 0.707′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Financial District. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located at the entrance to Trinity Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 80 Broadway, New York NY 10006, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Trinity Church (here, next to this marker); Francis Lewis, 1713 - 1803 (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Trinity Church (a few steps from this marker); April 7, 1952 (a few steps from this marker); New York State Society of the Cincinnati (within shouting distance of this marker); William Bradford (within shouting distance of this marker); Captain James Lawrence & Lieutenant Augustus C. Ludlow (within shouting distance of this marker); September 17, 1951 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
this page online
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 5, 2008
2. Queen Elizabeth II Marker
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 5, 2008
3. Marker at Trinity Church
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, November 5, 2008
4. Trinity Church
The marker is located on the ground at the entrance to Trinity Church in lower Manhattan.
from Trinity Church Archives, July 9, 1976
5. Queen Elizabeth II Receives Back Rent from Trinity Church
"On July 9, 1976, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Trinity Church as part of her trip to the United States for the nation’s Bicentennial of American Independence celebration. The Queen, however, was not simply visiting Trinity to take in its architecture or to wander through its churchyard, as many visitors do today. Rather, Queen Elizabeth II was at Trinity that day to symbolically collect 279 years of back rent in the form of 279 pepper corns (yes, like those used in a pepper grinder).
It is stated in Trinity’s charter of 1697 by King of England, William III, that the grant and conveyance of the rights, properties and privileges recited therein was made subject to the payment to the heirs and successors of the said William III of a yearly rent of “One Pepper Corne.”
This may seem like an extremely small sum to pay for rent, but it was standard in English law for both parties entering into a contract or agreement to provide the other party some token sum—no matter the value of the items being exchanged. A peppercorn was often used as a yearly rent when the owner of the land wanted to provide the land as, essentially, rent-free.
Seeing as how the yearly rent listed in Trinity’s charter had never been demanded or paid, Trinity’s then-rector, Ray Parks, presented Queen Elizabeth II with the 279 peppercorns—one for each year of Trinity’s existence up to that point—which she graciously accepted on the steps of Trinity Church. Dr. Parks expressed to Her Majesty the perpetual gratitude of the Rector, Churchwardens and Vestrymen of the Parish of Trinity Church in the City of New York for the generous benefactions to this parish of her illustrious predecessors, William III and Queen Anne."
It is stated in Trinity’s charter of 1697 by King of England, William III, that the grant and conveyance of the rights, properties and privileges recited therein was made subject to the payment to the heirs and successors of the said William III of a yearly rent of “One Pepper Corne.”
This may seem like an extremely small sum to pay for rent, but it was standard in English law for both parties entering into a contract or agreement to provide the other party some token sum—no matter the value of the items being exchanged. A peppercorn was often used as a yearly rent when the owner of the land wanted to provide the land as, essentially, rent-free.
Seeing as how the yearly rent listed in Trinity’s charter had never been demanded or paid, Trinity’s then-rector, Ray Parks, presented Queen Elizabeth II with the 279 peppercorns—one for each year of Trinity’s existence up to that point—which she graciously accepted on the steps of Trinity Church. Dr. Parks expressed to Her Majesty the perpetual gratitude of the Rector, Churchwardens and Vestrymen of the Parish of Trinity Church in the City of New York for the generous benefactions to this parish of her illustrious predecessors, William III and Queen Anne."
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,303 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on November 4, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1. submitted on June 4, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5. submitted on April 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
