A bullet hole. That’s what first caught my eye inside St George’s Church. A tiny hole in the wall. It’s not immediately obvious. You have to look closely. But it speaks volumes.
Welcome to St George’s Episcopal Church a majestic Romanesque Revival structure overlooking Stuyvesant Square. This church boasts a rich history stretching back to the 1750s. It began as a humble chapel on Beekman and Cliff Streets. It served East Side residents. They couldn’t easily reach Trinity Church Broadway’s main Episcopalian church.
The congregation grew. In 1856 the current building was completed. Initially its parishioners were wealthy New Yorkers. However a devastating fire in 1865 changed things. The interior and roof were completely rebuilt. After the fire more German immigrants joined the parish. They remained a significant part of the community well into the 20th century.
The church’s interior is stunning. Its stained-glass windows wooden pews and cavernous nave create an awe-inspiring sacred space. The elegant carved wooden pulpit commands attention. But that bullet hole. That’s the real story.
The hole’s significance lies with J P Morgan. This renowned financier was a devoted parishioner. He was a senior warden of St George’s. He generously supported social programs for the local immigrant community. His 1913 funeral was a massive event. It packed the church pews and attracted a huge crowd.
Morgan had his detractors. One was Thomas W Simpkin a London-born printer. Newspapers described Simpkin as a lunatic who’d escaped an asylum. He had never met Morgan. That didn’t stop him from showing up at St George’s on April 18 1920 with a gun. He intended to shoot Morgan. Morgan had been dead for seven years.
During a Sunday service Simpkin fired several shots. He killed Dr James Markoe a close friend of the Morgan family. Markoe was passing a collection plate at the time. The bullet hole. That’s where one of Simpkin’s bullets lodged. It’s a chilling reminder of that tragic day. A reminder of the unexpected violence that can erupt even within the hallowed walls of a church.
St George’s Church has witnessed both grand celebrations and terrible tragedies. Its story is one of wealth and poverty of grandeur and tragedy. It’s a story deeply intertwined with the history of New York City itself. It’s a story written into its very walls. Now look again. Notice the hole. Feel the weight of history.