[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14074-14075]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SCHAEFFER MEMORIAL BAPTIST 
                                 CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize the 150th 
anniversary of the Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church. Since it was 
built in 1885, the church has served as a place of worship, as well as 
a location for community activities and other gatherings.
  I have had the pleasure of visiting the Schaeffer Memorial Baptist 
Church and appreciate the rich history of the building. Since its 
founding so many decades ago, the church has grown into a place for the 
New River Valley African American community to worship and celebrate 
their history and heritage, as well as host events such as the Annual 
Memorial for Martin Luther King Junior.
  The Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church is a brick building, described 
as Victorian Gothic style. The church is characterized by a tall tower 
in the southeast corner and its gable roof. Along with the Hill School 
and the Primary Annex, the buildings make up the Old Christiansburg 
Industrial Institute. In 2001, the complex was listed on the National 
Register of Historic Places.
  The church was founded by Captain Charles S. Schaeffer, from 
Pennsylvania. After the War Between the States, he was assigned to 
Southwest Virginia to work for the Freedmen's Bureau. He worked to 
assist the African American community economically, and also worked to 
assist the community spiritually. He strived to provide education, 
technical skills, and knowledge of Christianity. He set up, organized, 
and managed several African American churches, which led to the baptism 
of hundreds. It is said that Captain Schaeffer was respected for 
practicing as he preached, and for truly living out the ideals he spoke 
of.
  According to the records of the Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church, 
the building was completed and dedicated as a ``temple built unto the 
LORD on the mountaintop'' on October 4, 1885. At the dedication 
service, Captain Schaeffer gave the trustees of the church a deed to 
the property.
  I am proud to honor this historical site in Christiansburg, Virginia, 
and recognize all those who have found faith, comfort, and friendships 
as part of the Schaffer Memorial Baptist Church community since it was 
founded 150 years ago.

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