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When the Christ Church cornerstone was laid on September 14, 1930, among the items deposited in it was the copy of the Holy Bible which had been used by Frank H. Schwenk. Elder Schwenk had been one of the founders of the mission Sunday School in 1890, and had been its superintendent for more than three decades. He died on August 31, 1929, and was found to have willed Christ Church approximately $30,000 which was a major factor in making the new church building venture practicable when it was undertaken. As Pastor Glessner wrote: “Mr. Schwenk not only worked untiringly for the good of Christ Reformed Church while living, but by his last will left us practically all of his worldly goods to carry on the building of the church.”
Other items deposited in the cornerstone were: copies of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Reformed Church in the U.S., the denominational Hymnal and Book of Worship, newspapers of September 9, Schwenk’s will and a copy of the accounting of his estate, a quarter, a dime, nickel and penny of 1930 minting, a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism, the 1930 Directory of Christ Church, printed minutes of the 1929 meetings of Philadelphia Classis and Eastern Synod, minutes of the congregational meeting at which erection of the new building was approved, list of officers of Christ Church, officers and teachers of the Church School, members of the Building Committee, and a copy of the cornerstone laying service.
“The Christ Church Story,” 73rd Anniversary Year 1971, by James Wagner
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