Watercolour of St. Paul’s Chapel in New York City.
 
As Manhattan’s oldest surviving church, built in 1766, St. Paul’s Chapel is celebrated for its architectural beauty, deep historical roots (including connections to George Washington), and its extraordinary survival and service after the 9/11 attacks. Its ongoing role as a place of worship and refuge, as well as its well-preserved Late Georgian design and active visitor program—including a moving 9/11 exhibit.
 
Interesting facts...
After his inauguration as the first President of the United States in 1789, George Washington prayed at St. Paul’s Chapel. The pew he used is still on display, underscoring the chapel’s critical place in American history.
Despite being just yards from the World Trade Center, St. Paul’s Chapel miraculously suffered no physical damage during the 9/11 attacks—even as buildings all around it were destroyed. Many believe an old sycamore tree in the churchyard absorbed the shock and saved the chapel, which became a hub for rescue and recovery workers afterwards.
The churchyard is home to gravestones from the 1700s, including several with faded inscriptions and unknown stories. Buried here are patriots from the Revolutionary War and early New Yorkers who helped shape the city.
 
Interesting facts..
The Library is a treasure, containing rare early books and first editions about London’s history, largely untouched by wartime damage.
The Merchant Taylors were among the first to build almshouses for members fallen on hard times—making them social landlords centuries before housing policy was ever formalized in London.