Can God afford to rent in Lower Manhattan? – Chapel that doubles as Catholic Memorial to September 11 appears likely to close

St. Joseph’s Chapel in Gateway Plaza, served as a respite center for recovery workers after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. It houses the Catholic Memorial to those attacks, Catholics being the group that lost the most members in the attacks. It is the only house of worship west of West Street. And it will probably close due to recent exorbitant rent increases from roughly $70,000 in annual rent to more than $260,000 now, reports Matthew Fenton the Daily Broadsheet.

Last week, the chapel announced the immediate cessation of its weekday Masses and of the Sunday 10:30am Mass. Further cuts look to be imminent.

The church dates from the 1880s. It has been forced to move several times, coming to its current location in 1983.

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