wfn.org | [ENS] 9/11 exhibit unveiled in historic chapel

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Monday, May 3, 2004

9/11 exhibit unveiled in historic chapel

by Matthew Davies

ENS 050304-1

[ENS] 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."

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