Friday, September 11, 2026

It is the 11th of September 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

 

It is appropriate that today, the 25th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11, we head to Manhattan.

 

It was in the late 1600’s, after New Amsterdam had become New York, that a number of Anglicans petitioned the Royal governor for a charter for a church. It was granted in 1697 under the auspices of King William III, and the first Trinity Church was built on Wall Street in 1698.

 

As the Island began to grow, the church built “Chapels-of-ease”. Think of these like early multi-site churches where services could be held closer to the population that couldn’t traverse the difficult terrain of colonial Manhattan. In 1766, one of these chapels was built, christened St. Paul's, at the corner of Broadway and Fulton. In 1776, the Great Fire consumed the original Trinity Church, but St. Paul’s was saved- a bucket brigade with water from the Hudson saved the church. It became a center of Anglican life in Manhattan. When George Washington took the oath of office in New York (then the capital), he made his way to worship at St. Paul's. One of the earliest Great Seals of the United States was commissioned by the church in 1785.

 

As a new Trinity church was built, the population moved, and Manhattan became a commercial center, but the Georgian church in stone remained an active place of worship. The funerals of both James Monroe and William McKinley were held there. In the 1960s, the chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a New York City landmark. But its most notable place in American history was still to come.

 

The chapel was in the shadows of the Twin Towers, about 100 yards away. 25 years ago, on 9/11, with the terrorist attacks and the collapse of the towers, the Chapel was feared to have been lost as well.

 

The Reverend Lyndon Harris, an associate minister at St. Paul's, recalled that day,

 

“I assumed the chapel had been demolished. When I saw the spire still standing, I was overwhelmed. It took my breath away. Opening the door to enter St. Paul’s was an extraordinary experience; except for a layer of ash and soot, the building survived unscathed. Many proclaimed that “St. Paul’s had been spared.” It seemed clear to me that if this was true, it was not because we were holier than anyone who died across the street; it was because we now had a big job to do.”

 

It is believed that a giant sycamore tree planted in the graveyard at the church protected the building. The site of the church standing amidst the dust and death remains one of the most striking images from that day.

 

On that day and in the months to come, the chapel became a center for rescue and recovery and for police and fire and other workers at Ground Zero. Thousands of volunteers worked out of the chapel to provide food and comfort, and to offer a place for rest and prayer. The church received a bell from its sister church in London, and every year since 2002 it has been rung at 8:46 am in commemoration of the attacks. The chapel has a memorial pew as well as an Iron Memorial Cross. The cross was forged from remnants from the World Trade Center. Jessica Lee Ives, an artist in residence during 2001 and 2002, created a communion chalice from the World Trade Center- the base of the cup is a tree trunk representing the sycamore tree that saved the church.

 

The chapel is also the subject of a wonderful children’s book- “The Little Chapel that Stood,” written by therapist A.B. Curtiss and illustrated by Mirto Golino. Modeled after “The Little Engine That Could,” it is a great way to teach young people the history of the events of 25 years ago this morning. If you’re near Manhattan, I can’t recommend visiting the chapel enough- I was able to go last time I was there.

 

There are grown-ups today that weren’t alive on that fateful morning. There are parents and people in their 30’s who might have no memory of the event- let those of us who remembered keep the memories of those we lost and of the evil perpetrated alive- but not as a memorial to human suffering, but as the chapel itself has done- as a reminder of the grace available to us in our darkest hours- and not in a memorial iron cross, but in the cross of Christ.

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and today’s secondary Psalm is the same as yesterday’s- and just too good a word to pass up:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
 slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
 nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
 or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
 so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
 so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
 so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 11th of September 2026 brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by the little engine that could edit, roast, and preach- he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who is flying to Berlin today via New York- my 5th time flying on September 11th (maybe it’s cheaper?) I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.