A New Organ For Manhattan’s Oldest Church

St. Paul’s Chapel survived 9/11 despite being literally across the street from the World Trade Center. It famously became a staging area for first responders, as well as an improvised and moving memorial site.  Now, tourists flock to “the little chapel that stood,” which is the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan. 

Last year, the chapel, which is part of Trinity Church Wall Street, celebrated its 250^th anniversary with a major renovation – a renovation that concludes this year with the installation of a new organ. All this week through Saturday, the chapel is marking the occasion with concerts of various sorts, from Bach cantatas to a screening of the Harold Lloyd silent film Speedy with organ accompaniment (that one’s on Friday night). 

Music Director Julian Wachner gives WNYC’s John Schaefer a tour of the instrument – which has a couple of sonic surprises. 

Full schedule of St. Paul’s Organ Inauguration Festival is available here.