LOCKED IN

There are a couple of notable things about church buildings here. The three in which I have worshipped, all have their sanctuary on the second floor. Granted this is a small sampling but I think I've driven by others built this way. Why? I have not asked but it may be to avoid flooding during rainy season. Or perhaps it is to provide more space than if the sanctuary were on the first floor.
In this city by the way, when people expand their buildings they go up, not out. I am told that property tax is based on the size of your ground floor. Therefore if your house is enlarged by adding a second, third or fourth floor, your taxes will not increase. Our young tutor told us just last week that she hopes to earn enough money to soon help her parents add a second floor to their old, small house.
The other notable thing is that security, even during services, is very important. Many city buildings have walls 2 or 3 meters high around them. When the gate is open, they normally have a guard on duty. So it is with two of the three churches we have visited.
Sunday I visited one of these churches. Following the service there was coffee and juice and most people stayed to visit. With a couple of others however, I was fairly quick to leave. When I got downstairs and outside, I found that we three early departees were going nowhere. The gate was closed and locked, and it was the only exit. Apparently the guard was taking a break and thought the church was having lunch, so just left the gate locked.
Fortunately he was summoned and quite quickly the gate was opened and the three of us were freed to go. Out I went to flag a taxi and head home.
Hmmm, I wonder if this would work in Canada - lock the front doors until the service is finished no matter how long (and today's service was 2 hours plus)? Might not be very visitor friendly and the fire department might be a little concerned. On the other hand, preachers do like to have a captive audience.