Sam writes...

Today marks 25 years since the 9/11 attacks, a coordinated series of four suicide terrorist attacks carried out against the USA by the militant group al-Qaeda on the morning of September 11, 2001. This week, I have been in New York City, and on Monday I visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

It is truly impossible to put into words just how powerful a visit to this site is, as those among you who have already visited will know. My heart was broken once again by the barbarity of the attacks, but quickly rebuilt by the incredible stories of courage - from the responders, from civilians, from those aboard flight 93, from all of New York City. I can only hope that, put to the test, I could find inside myself even half of the bravery that these people did. Take Mychal Judge, for example. A Franciscan friar and chaplain for the New York City Fire Department, Judge was killed after bravely rushing into the North Tower to offer support and prayers to victims. Judge was ultimately designated as "Victim 0001" and recognised as the first named victim of the attacks. Look him up - his story is very much worth remembering, as are all of those belonging to the victims of that day.

As part of my visit, I joined a walking tour around the area and our first stop was a visit to St. Paul's Chapel, Manhattan's oldest public building in continuous use. Having survived the 1776 Great Fire and 9/11, the building is one that has seen a lot of history - United States President George Washington prayed there after his inauguration in 1789! 

The reason I am writing about this historic site is that, for nine months after the attacks in 2001, St. Paul's Chapel was a place of refuge for recovery workers. As the website for St. Paul's writes: "Rescue crews, police, and firefighters found their way to St. Paul’s to rest and wash up. Volunteers from across the country arrived to offer care for the workers’ weary bodies and souls with food, personal supplies, counselling, and prayer." 

The pews in St Paul's Chapel were removed some years ago, but one remains - now known as the Memorial Pew [top image]. The plaque on it reads: "During recovery efforts, the chapel’s pews were places of prayer, meditation, and rest for recovery workers and volunteers. Thousands of letters of gratitude were taped to every surface. Over time, the workers’ heavy boots and equipment scuffed and scratched the pews, transforming them into lasting symbols of remembrance." 

Churches are truly incredible places. No matter your belief or background, they provide shelter and support in times of need. The story of St. Paul's Chapel is certainly not the first time a church building has been used in disaster relief, and will not be the last. Standing within that chapel, seeing every scuff and scratch on the Memorial Pew and remembering the inspiring stories I had heard of the heroes of that fateful day in 2001, I had never felt prouder to work in a church building.

Hate did not win that day, and it never will. Please take a moment today to remember the 2,977 victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Sam Love

10.09.2026

New York