America at 250: Trinity Church and the Founding of a Nation
Trinity Church celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with music, prayer, conversation, and events that honor a country whose story is still being written.
- Founded in 1697, Trinity Church stood at the center of New York City during the American Revolution and witnessed history in the making.
- When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, Trinity Church had already stood for more than 75 years.
- Trinity Church celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with events that offer a unique lens on faith, independence, and democracy.
- Visit historic Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan, where George Washington worshipped and Alexander Hamilton is buried.
America at 250: Music and Special Events
Prayers of Our People
Watch this special July 4th service of prayer, song, and reflection that reaches into our country’s history to uncover the prayers that shaped a people — and a nation.
Prayers That Shaped America
Read a curated selection of prayers that honor the nation’s 250th anniversary
“American Tune”
Paul Simon’s folk-rock classic, presented a capella by Trinity Choir, is a meditation on America’s still-evolving story.
“Come Sunday”
In America’s 250th year, Duke Ellington’s jazz standard is a prayer for endurance and collective hope.
Hamilton and the Founding Fathers
Ken Burns and Lin-Manuel Miranda Discussed the American Revolution with NYC Students at Trinity Church
On Hamilton, Trinity, and Revolution: Five questions for author Joanne B. Freeman
The Revolutionary Schuyler Sisters: Five Questions for Author Amanda Vaill
Alexander Hamilton and Trinity Church
George Washington’s First Presidential Prayer Service
History and Meaning
Prayers That Shaped America
Angelica Schuyler Church and Trinity
Great Awakenings: Five Things to Know About the Bishop Behind Trinity’s World Premiere Concert Opera
Trinity Church: Three Centuries of Service and Reinvention
Trinity Places
From Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel in Lower Manhattan, to our Uptown Cemetery and Mausoleum in Washington Heights — and even a parish outpost on an island in the middle of the New York Harbor — Trinity Church is woven throughout the history of New York City.
Trinity Church
Established in 1697, Trinity Church was a sanctuary in the city even before the American Revolution unfolded. As we commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary, we’re still serving our parish.
St Paul’s Chapel
Historic St. Paul’s Chapel opened 10 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and it is the only colonial-era church remaining in Manhattan. Today, the Chapel is a destination for culture, community, and worship as we celebrate our country's 250th anniversary.
Uptown Cemetery
Trinity Church’s Uptown Cemetery and Mausoleum is a serene green space for reflection in the city. Visit the final resting place of notable New Yorkers, including soldiers from the American Revolutionary War.
Governor’s Island
The Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion was built in 1846 to serve members of the military stationed on Governor’s Island. Located in the Governor’s Island historic district, it remains part of Trinity parish, though it is currently closed to the public.