9/11 exhibit unveiled in historic chapel
St. Paul’s display
honors the heroic efforts of volunteers of September 11.
Article appeared
in the May 3, 2004 edition of Episcopal News Service.
by Matthew Davies
[Episcopal News Service] The historic chapel of St. Paul, downtown Manhattan's oldest public building in continuous use, unveiled a spectacular "Ground Zero" exhibit May 2 in honor of the remarkable volunteer-driven relief effort following the tragic events of September 11. The Rev. Dan Matthews, former rector of Trinity Church, Wall Street, welcomed the gathering, which included former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, dedicating both the exhibit and the chapel to the continuing ministry of hospitality.
"Several days after the attack, an extraordinary
ministry of hospitality sprang forth," Matthews said. "Many of you
here today are an integral part of that caring that took place inside these
very walls."
Finding meaning
"Unwavering Spirit: Hope and Healing at Ground
Zero" was created by ESI Design, a New York-based company founded in 1977
by Edwin Schlossberg. An earlier exhibit, "Out of the Dust," parts of
which have been incorporated into the new exhibit, was originally intended as a
three-month endeavor. As people poured through the door it was decided to
extend the term, and almost three years later it had drawn millions of
visitors. [www.saintpaulschapel.org/in_depth/interactives.shtml]
"What we came to realize is that the ministry of
hospitality from the recovery workers was in fact extending to the
visitors," Matthews said. "They were the pilgrims. They were looking
to find meaning out of this terrible tragedy."
Schlossberg told the gathering what a gift it had been to
work on the project, adding, "We tried to create an exhibition which
represents the history of St Paul's--a lot of the difficulties and challenges
it has faced--and to stimulate the idea of sanctuary."
In addition to a colorful collage of banners, artifacts,
images and text, the exhibit offers an interactive computer experience enabling
its visitors to explore a video anthology, an artifact library, and an
interactive timeline. It includes a provision to send messages from the chapel.
"The new exhibit program invites visitors to share
their stories--in images and text--with others," Schlossberg said.
"And, by focusing on the relief effort following 9/11, it will be
differentiated from the planned memorial at the World Trade Center site."
'Never give up'
Lord Carey brought greetings to the gathering and spoke
about his inspiration from visiting St. Paul's Chapel a few months after 9/11
and seeing the place full of "living bodies."
One of his last acts as Archbishop of Canterbury was to
dedicate a bell for St. Paul's Chapel on behalf of the mayor and the people of
London. "'Forged in adversity' are the words on the bell," Carey
said. "I think that sums up Americans--you never give up."
Referring to St. Paul, after whom the chapel is named,
Matthews explained how he repeatedly used the word 'agape', a Greek word
meaning ‘unconditional love.’
"The ability to respond to another person's need is
what this place is," Matthews added. "This place was filled with such
'agape' that it transformed the lives of the people who worked and visited
here."
New rector--universal hope
The dedication doubled as the first official act by the Rev.
Dr. James H. Cooper, 17th rector of Trinity Church. As he prepared to cut the
ribbon, Cooper, formerly rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Ponte Vedra Beach,
Florida, said that he was reminded how every church is always catering for the
unforeseen need of the community around. "It didn't just begin on
September 11," he said. "But that event touches the entire world and
all of the tragedies we suffer in our personal lives and corporately. Therefore
the hope of Trinity St Paul's is a universal hope throughout all humanity...
"We move forward with hope, love, peace, reconciliation
and healing as the ultimate goal."
-- Matthew Davies is staff writer and web manager for Episcopal News Service.