Leaning tower of Philly? Founding fathers’ church gets grant

From Philadelphia-

Back in the mid-1700s, Benjamin Franklin spearheaded a lottery at Christ Church to help fund the construction of a steeple and supporting tower.

As legend has it, he was motivated as much by his love of the church as he was by his love of science.

“He had this notion that he wanted to try his lightning experiments in it,” said Barbara Hogue, executive director of the Christ Church preservation fund. However, construction took too long for his curiosity, and he started experimenting with his kite and key instead.

Now, the steeple at the landmark historic church is leaning and its supporting tower needs some serious structural stabilization.

Thanks to a $500,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities announced Thursday, the church can shore up the tower and steeple that for 56 years made it the tallest structure in North America. The grant is one of 233 projects the endowment will fund across the country.

Founded in 1695, Christ Church was the first parish of the Church of England in Pennsylvania and the birthplace of the U.S. Episcopal Church.

More here-

https://www.thegardnernews.com/entertainmentlife/20190330/leaning-tower-of-philly-founding-fathers-church-gets-grant

Seattle church offers sanctuary to man facing deportation

From Seattle-

A Seattle church is providing sanctuary to a construction company owner who came to the U.S. from Mexico illegally years ago.

Jaime Rubio Sulficio had been ordered to leave the country by March 28 but on Friday took sanctuary at Seattle’s St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral.

The move is intended to take advantage of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement guidelines to avoid arrests at sensitive locations such as places of worship while he works with lawyers to seek a legal remedy to his immigration status.

Rubio Sulficio said the decision was not easy, and he and his wife Keiko Maruyama agonized for months over the move. His wife and his 6-year-old son are both U.S. citizens, and the family wanted to remain together.

“Thinking of him growing up without me around breaks my heart,” Rubio Sulficio said.

More here-

https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/mar/30/seattle-church-offers-sanctuary-to-man-facing-deportation/