Financial District in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Trinity Church
Exploring Downtown
After the Revolutionary War, Trinity donated land for new streets to help rebuild a shattered New York. Street names reflecting the church’s presence include Vestry, Rector and Church, as well as Vesey and Barclay (named for two of Trinity’s early rectors) – and, of course Trinity Place. In that same spirit, Trinity Church has made countless contributions to New York’s well-being, including social programs for 19th-century immigrants, Depression-era soup kitchens and shelters for today’s homeless.
The first Trinity Church building perished in the Great Fire of 1776. Following the demolition of its successor in 1839, Trinity engaged English-born architect Richard Upjohn, who imagined the new Trinity as an idyllic English Gothic country church – his rendering shown above reveals no hint of Trinity’s location at one of the city’s busiest intersections.
Today, Trinity ranks as one of the finest Gothic Revival church buildings in America. Inside, Trinity shelters a treasure-house of 19th century religious art, including enormous bronze doors modeled after those of Ghiberti in the Baptistry in Florence, and the stunning blue and red stained-glass chancel window. Outside, churchyard monuments honor the memory of notable New Yorkers buried here, including first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, steamship pioneer Robert Fulton, and William Bradford, founder of New York’s first newspaper, the New York Gazette.
Erected by The Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the Signers of the Declaration of Independence series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1697.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 40° 42.47′ N, 74° 0.702′ W. Marker was in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It was in the Financial District. Marker was at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street, on the right when traveling south on Broadway. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: New York NY 10006, United States of America.
We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Queen Elizabeth II (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Trinity Church (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Trinity Church (a few steps from this marker); Francis Lewis, 1713 - 1803 (a few steps from this marker); Site of the Wall of New Amsterdam (a few steps from this marker); April 7, 1952 (a few steps from this marker); September 17, 1951 (a few steps from this marker); New York State Society of the Cincinnati (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
More about this marker. The top right of the marker features a “Birds-eye view of Trinity Church by Richard Upjohn, 1847” which depicts it as an English Gothic country church. The left of the marker contains a picture of King William III, whose “charter mandated that the Vestry of Trinity Church pay rent of ‘one pepper-corne’ annually to the Crown.” Next to this is a picture of Britain's reigning monarch with the caption “When Queen Elizabeth II visited Trinity Church during the American Bicentennial in 1976, the Vestry’s Dr. Robert Ray Parks presented her with 279 peppercorns in back rent.” Below these are two photographs. One is of an African woman and has a caption of “Trinity Church is one of the country’s oldest and largest philanthropies, with a history of local and international grantmaking that dates back to the early 1700s. Trinity’s international grantees include development management training programs for African women who produce most of their families’ food.” Also present is a photograph of the front doors of the church, with the caption “The Astor Memorial doors, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, with sculptors Karl Bitter, J. Massey Rhind, and Charles Niehaus, remain one of New York’s finest works of American religious art.”
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Take a tour of the markers in lower Manhattan erected by the Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc.
Also see . . . Trinity Church. Burned During War, Trinity is Home to Monuments, Hamilton Grave. New York Freedom Trail website. (Submitted on June 5, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 994 times since then and 11 times this year. Last updated on December 23, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on June 5, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 8. submitted on December 19, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 9. submitted on December 23, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.