Lynne V. Cheney Enjoys Visit to Christ Church

Author, Wife of U.S. Vice President Tours Historic Sites; Makes Donation to Christ Church Preservation Trust Philadelphia, PA, NOVEMBER 10, 2003 - Lynne V. Cheney visited Christ Church on Thursday to learn about history education programs and to make a donation to Christ Church Preservation Trust. The donation comes from the proceeds of Mrs. Cheney's best-selling children's books America: A Patriotic Primer and A is for Abigail and will benefit the maintenance and preservation of the Christ Church Burial Ground. Mrs. Cheney, who recently completed her second children's book A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women; toured Christ Church and took the opportunity to sit in the very pew used by Abigail Adams when attending Christ Church. The Rev. Timothy B. Stafford, Rector of Christ Church, led the tour which included a special display of the Church's Book of Common Prayer, in which verses to the king were publicly struck from the text on July 4, 1776. Rev. Safford said, "Mrs. Cheney's commitment to teaching American history complements our program here, where we discuss the role of Christ Church as a beacon of Vision, Faith and Courage since the birth of our nation." "Mrs. Cheney's dedication to educating America's youth about history sets an example for educators and philanthropists alike. We are very grateful for her generous donation to our program." said Donald U. Smith, Executive Director of the Christ Church Preservation Trust. Mrs. Cheney with the Rev. Timothy B. Safford, Rector of Christ Church John and Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross and George Washington all worshiped at Christ Church, founded in 1695. Benjamin Franklin and six other signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried here. Christ Church (with 200,000 visitors annually, most of whom are students) offers an authentic interactive experience with Colonial and Revolutionary-era history. Mrs. Cheney, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities and today a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC, has spent much of her professional life writing and speaking about the importance of knowing and teaching history. Her books, America: A Patriotic Primer and A is for Abigail are alphabet books for children of all ages and their families which celebrate the ideas and ideals that are the foundations of this nation. Established in 1965, the Christ Church Preservation Trust is a non-religious non-profit historic organization dedicated to maintaining and preserving Christ Church and the Burial Ground. Visit historic Christ Church at the corners of 2nd and Market Streets for tours and talks on colonial and revolutionary-era history. Open to the visitors Monday-Saturday 9:00-5:00, Sunday 1:00-5:00.