WTC toxic debris and asbestos testing questions, March 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

St. Paul’s Chapel of Trinity Church, the sanctuary for weary rescue workers at ground zero since Sept. 11, is closing temporarily for a cleaning.

"There has been lots of wear and tear on the building, and it’s just in need of a huge cleaning now, both inside and out," the Rev. Lyndon F. Harris said yesterday. "There is some debris outside the church that is of significant concern."

With five big grills set up on the sidewalk, the Episcopal chapel, located at Broadway and Fulton Street, has served about 2,000 meals a day, starting the weekend after Sept. 11, Mr. Harris said. He estimated that 350,000 meals had been served there. The 236-year-old building has been open around the clock to provide food and rest for firefighters, police officers and rescue workers.

The church has held a noontime service just for rescue workers, and, for the past two months, an 8 a.m. Sunday service open to the public. Daily public prayer services are expected to begin again in May.

The cleaning will begin after Easter, Mr. Harris said. He did not know how long it would last or how much it would cost. Preservationists have said they fear the fine dust covering the church may contain toxic substances and could eventually damage it. According to the chapel’s Web site, the cleanup project is mandated by the city’s Department of Environmental Protection.

"After Easter and the required cleaning, St. Paul’s public ministry will be reborn to address the urgent, unique spiritual needs of a community that is recovering but still grieving from the terrible tragedy, ’’ said the Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard, the vicar of Trinity Parish.

Nathan Brockman, a spokesman for the chapel, said of the closing: "It was a terribly difficult decision. Unfortunately, we were at the point where we had to make it."

Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company

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