A historic church, once attended by George Washington, will pull down a plaque honoring the nation’s first president because it makes some of their worshippers uncomfortable.
Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, where Washington was once a parishioner, has a small brass plate on one of the pews marking where Washington and his wife, Martha, sat every Sunday. But because Washington was once a slave owner, Christ Church’s leadership says the plates will have to be removed.
“The plaques in our sanctuary make some in our presence feel unsafe or unwelcome,” leaders said, a reference to the fact that Washington was a slaveholder, the church said in a statement.
“Some visitors and guests who worship with us choose not to return because they receive an unintended message from the prominent presence of the plaques. Many in our congregation feel a strong need for the church to stand clearly on the side of ‘all are welcome- no exceptions,” the statement continued.
Washington not only attended Christ Church, he was one of its major financiers following the Revolutionary War. The Episcopalian parish received much of its funding from the British Government pre-war, but once Washington prevailed, its future was in doubt. Washington stepped in to support the church and purchased the pew where his plaque now resides — at least for a couple more months.
Christ Church says it’s adamant about removing the plate, however, along with another honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee who also worshipped there with his family. The church’s pastor, Rev. Noelle York-Simmons, says the vote to scrub Christ Church clean of “problematic items” was unanimous.
The plaques are expected to come out next summer.
Reported by: The Daily Wire