Existing comment:
September 12
Digging Out and Cleaning Up
Though St Paul's survives, the building and churchyard are covered in inches of dust from the Twin Towers' collapse. It's unclear whether the chapel is structurally sound. Engineers inspect the building and pronounce it fit for occupancy, and the digging out begins.
Slowly at first, rescue workers, police and fire-fighters stop by to rest and wash up. Since there is no electricity, the chapel is lit by candlelight and flashlight, until Verizon and Con Ed set up crude lamps to shed light on the fledgling ministry. Volunteers begin to call; among the first to arrive is a group from St Hilda's and St Hugh's Episcopal School in Manhattan. |