Elias Neau Grave

Elias Neau, also known as Elie Naud, is an important figure in the Episcopal Church and is commemorated as a “witness to the faith.” He and his wife Susanna are buried in Trinity’s north churchyard, near the Astor Cross. After being persecuted in France for his Protestant beliefs, Neau became an English citizen and settled in America. In New York, he felt God calling him to help enslaved Blacks and Native Americans. Having once been imprisoned in France’s infamous Chateau d’If, Neau worked hard to secure the spiritual education of vulnerable populations. In 1704, Neau used funding from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to start a school for enslaved persons in New York City. The Episcopal Church honors Elias Neau each year on September 7.