Grace and Beauty in the Shadow of Ground Zero

Since the late 17th century Trinity Church Wall Street has been a constant witness in Lower Manhattan to the faith, hope, and love which are the essense of the Christian life. The church building (the 3rd. since 1698) was built in the 1840s according to the design and close supervision of American architect Richard Upjohn (grandfather of Hobart Upjohn who was the architect of the Chapel of the Cross). It is paradigmatic of the Gothic revival style both in terms of architeecture and of decorative arts. Everywhere there is something to delight the eye and deepen the sense of the presence of God (except, maybe, the television moniters). My personal favorites are All Saints Chapel, the 15th century tryptique in the baptistry, the great East window, and the hagiographical reredos - especially the sublime angels with raised wings playing musical instruments which grace the top of the reredos. It is hard to realize that for many years Upjohn's spire (as in that iconic view up Wall Street) was the tallest building in New York! More tomorrow from the musical angle.