I just finished reading an exciting mystery novel the hero of which was a archivist in the Nation’s Capitol. It was a good book and a very interesting plot, with lots of tidbits of history interspersed.

For example, did you know anything about the Foundry Church in Washington, DC? Neither did I. A foundry is by definition a factory to make cannons and other guns. Henry Foxall built and ran a factory in that city, and that’s what they did. They made guns and cannons for the U. S. Government in the 1800’s. And he was quite good at it.

IN the War of 1812 when the British were burning the Capitol, Henry Foxall said a little prayer. The rumor was that the British had the foundry as their next target to burn down after the President’s Mansion.

Foxall made a vow to God that day. If God would protect his factory from ruin, Foxall would build something to God’s honor.

That night as the British were burning the city (You’ll remember they burned the Capitol building, the Congressional library, and the Treasury), a violent storm arose suddenly. A thunderstorm appeared as if out of nowhere, stopping the British from further mischief. They abandoned the city and fled for some safety. The British didn’t burn Foxall’s foundry.

Two years later “Foundry Church” was erected. Later it was the Church where FDR took Winston Churchill for worship. Later it was the Methodist Church for Bill Clinton when he was President. But it seems that its most prominent role was as the Church for President Abraham Lincoln.

Since the Church known as St. John’s Church was across from the White House, Lincoln used to duck into it for quick prayers. But it was the Foundry Church, right up 16th Street about a mile from the White House, where Lincoln became a Church director!

As Paul Harvey used to say:

“Now you know the rest of the Story!”