Jordan's king donates land for church at baptismal river site: Anglicans to build at Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan
King Abdullah II of Jordan has given a plot of land to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem for construction of a church and retreat center at the much-visited Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan site, where, according to tradition, Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist took place.
In officially dedicating the two-and-a-half-acre site on March 28, Anglican bishop Suheil Dawani of Jerusalem called the gift a “privilege” that will enable the building “of a medium-sized Gothic church,” according to Episcopal News Service.