NEW YORK Chapel near attack site chronicles 9/11 events

St. Paul's Chapel became a haven for those working at ground zero.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
NEW YORK -- Day and night for months on end, an 18th-century church reached out to the victims of 21st-century terrorism.
St. Paul's Chapel provided food, shelter, clothing and even massages to the rescue workers laboring a block away at the World Trade Center site.
A church exhibit, "Out of the Dust: A Year of Ministry at Ground Zero," chronicles the Sept. 11 attack, and the congregation's role in the aftermath. It opened a year after the incident and recently was expected to record its 500,000th visitor.
Many were surprised to discover that the wood and stone chapel, which dates to 1766, even survived the terrorist attacks. A large sycamore tree on the grounds was destroyed, but absorbed the force of the nearby explosions. Although the church was covered with soot and debris, not a window was broken.
The World Trade Center rescue effort was the church's latest brush with history. Former congregants include George Washington who visited the chapel immediately after his inauguration to pray for the young nation's future. In the months after the attack, podiatrists tended to workers' feet in Washington's pew.
Marks left intact
Last fall, the church reopened to the public after a $300,000 cleanup. But scratches from rescue workers' boots and tool belts were left on the polished wood pews as testimony to what had occurred.
During the long cleanup effort at the World Trade Center, the church provided nourishment and a place to rest. A time line recounts news developments that punctuated late 2001, including anthrax deaths and the invasion of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Episcopal chapel's efforts were evolving into a well-organized effort. The hot dogs and hamburgers that fueled workers in the first few days of the rescue were soon replaced with gourmet meals donated by New York's finest restaurants and hotels. Teddy bears, notes and banners began arriving from across the country.
The exhibit begins outdoors on the church's front steps and continues inside the chapel. It attracts a steady and usually silent crowd. One small table inside the church is covered with memorials to victims left on the church's iron fence.
Even now, the chapel is still reaching out to comfort those affected by the attacks. A box of tissues is discreetly placed near the exit for teary visitors.