On the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, We Remember the Helpers
A firefighter attends a service at St. Paul's Chapel, which became a place of rest and recovery for rescue workers and volunteers after September 11, 2001.
For nine months after the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, thousands of volunteers transformed St. Paul’s Chapel into a place of refuge and hope. These photos tell their story.
Beloved children’s television host Fred Rogers famously said that whenever he saw a catastrophic event on the news as a little boy, his mother would urge him to shift his gaze to the sidelines. “Always look for the helpers,” she’d say. “If you look for the helpers, you’ll know that there’s hope.”
When tragedy struck Lower Manhattan on September 11, we didn’t have to look far to find helpers. They came by the thousands — police, firefighters, medical workers, National Guard soldiers, construction and sanitation crews, engineers, and technicians. Braving ash, debris, and toxic fumes, they searched for survivors, cleared the wreckage, and stood with our neighborhood in its time of need.
On September 12, 2001, Trinity staff were amazed to find that not even a pane of glass at St. Paul’s Chapel was broken, although its exterior and churchyard were covered in debris.
Many found refuge at St. Paul’s Chapel, a sanctuary located steps away from the World Trade Center site that was miraculously undamaged by the attack. In the days and weeks that followed, the Trinity community came together to turn St. Paul’s into a hub of support.
Volunteers served food to hungry rescue and recovery workers.
Local restaurants sent hot meals to support the effort.
The free, easy meals allowed workers to refuel between shifts at ground zero.
The ministry expanded as the needs at ground zero became clearer.
Hazardous conditions at the site took a toll on workers’ bodies, and long, exhausting shifts prevented many from going home. Cots were set up along the perimeter of the chapel so workers could sleep before heading back to the pit. Chiropractors and massage therapists soothed aching backs, and the pew where George Washington prayed after his 1789 inauguration was transformed into a podiatrist’s office.
Fires continued to burn under the wreckage for 100 days, melting the soles of workers’ boots. Donations allowed them to pick up new boots before their shifts.
Cots at St. Paul’s Chapel gave rescue workers a place to sleep.
Massage therapists soothed workers' aching backs.
Podiatrists treated rescue workers’ burns and sprains.
Workers could stop by St. Paul's for boots before heading back to the pit.
As news about St. Paul’s mission spread, gifts of clothing, aspirin, and other supplies poured in. Trinity staff received up to 60 calls per day from churches, community groups, and local businesses seeking to claim 12-hour shifts.
Volunteers brought supplies like clothing, paper towels, and cough drops to soothe workers’ throats. They organized, cleaned, and served hot meals.
Those who could not help in person sent messages of love and solidarity.
The letters, cards, and banners came from all over the world.
Volunteers taped the notes to St. Paul’s pews and columns for workers to read.
Throughout this time, St. Paul’s remained a place of worship. More than 300 clergy stepped in to lead daily worship services and listen to recovery workers share stories from the front lines of the tragedy.
For nine months, the chapel hosted thousands of volunteers and served hundreds of workers daily. As New York City recovered from the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history, St. Paul’s became an oasis of comfort and community.
Rescue workers and volunteers participated in a daily Eucharist.
Musicians performed daily, playing songs like "Amazing Grace” and “Danny Boy."
The Rev. Daniel Matthews, then Trinity’s rector, with a recovery worker at St. Paul’s.
Twenty-five years later, we cannot forget those who helped — the thousands who came from near and far to sift through rubble, tend to blisters, serve meals, organize supplies, and offer prayer. Their presence reminds us that even in the hardest seasons, when devastation is overwhelming and evil seems to have the upper hand, we can always look toward the helpers to give us hope.
Twenty-five years after its ground zero ministry, St. Paul's continues to welcome all who enter its doors.
Learn more about how Trinity is observing the 25th anniversary of 9/11.