Tarpon Springs: Church Closes Due To Sinkholes

church

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — A church in Tarpon Springs is closed indefinitely following the discovery of two sinkholes on the property.

The Tampa Bay Times reports (http://bit.ly/19NYOFR) that the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs discovered the sinkholes while remodeling.

The 80-member congregation is meeting instead at an Elks Lodge. Rev. Don Rollins says the total damage is still being calculated, but it might be as much as $1 million.

The church building is more than a century old. It is known for its paintings in the sanctuary.

A famous early 20th century artist named George Inness Jr. was a member, and his paintings adorn the sanctuary. They’re undamaged, but until the engineers sign off and allow people back inside the church, the valuable paintings are off-limits.

Source: Associated Press