By Anne W. Semmes
At Christ Church Greenwich last Sunday Mother’s Day, parishioners and choristers gathered after their 10:00 service on their church grounds before the Soldiers Monument Cross to witness the installation of a time capsule, a stainless-steel box containing 60 collected items reflecting the present-day workings of the Church. That box is set to be opened in 25 years, when the Church will be celebrating its 300th year.
“The idea for the time capsule came,” began Jane Snowdon, Vestry Member and Chair of the 275th Anniversary Committee, “when I was viewing the two other capsules that are here in the ground and they won’t be open until 2063 and 2107. But for those of us who will be here in 25 years for our 300th, I thought how exciting it would be to be able to open up a time capsule and reflect on what life was like in the year 2024, what Christ Church means to us, what our faith means to us.”
So, with Rev. Dr. Cheryl McFadden and Senior Warden Dominic Casserley looking on, Snowdon proceeded to share each of those 60 items chosen to “give a glimpse of our life and our worship and our community of faith here,” she said. “So, it’s been a real joy to have donations from the clergy, the vestry, parishioners, the preschool, the youth group, and the children’s ministry,” she said. And “We also have a donation from Putnam Cottage across the street, which shares our history.”
First held up was a Greenwich Sentinel newspaper,” Snowdon praised for “covering our events here. This one is about our Easter service.” Also shown, a Sunday Greenwich Time and New York Times issue. Next was art from the Church’s preschool. “Each of the children have made stained glass windows [art]…a Blue Jay Glass…Sparrow Glass…Robin Glass, Hawks and Falcons.” Also included she showed a book on the “beautiful stained-glass windows of the church by William Van Brand.”
Held up also was Rev. McFadden’s donation of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer “with an enclosed note for future generations of the Parish.” And new this year to be added is a children’s “Read With Me Bible,” now placed in the pews. Snowdon thanked the leadership of Deacon Susie McNiff for the donated “fabulous scrapbook that contains photographs of the children, some of the wonderful programs that are being offered, and even some letters from the children…So when these children come back in 25 years, when we open the time capsule, they’ll enjoy looking at their artwork and their messages from those days.”
Taylor Swift music also made the list. “We have a CD from the Youth Group by Taylor Swift,” said Snowdon, with a “hilarious accompanying note: ‘Taylor Swift is the biggest artist of the last 15 years. CDs are obsolete, but Taylor Swift is huge.’ Also enclosed are two photographs of the Youth Group.”
Snowdon then held up a map issued in 1940. “It depicts what Greenwich looked like in the time of the Revolution, 1775 to 1800. You can actually see Horseneck Chapel here as it was at that time. And we thank the Putnam Cottage for donating.”
More proof positive were magazines depicting the restoration of the next-door historic Tomes-Higgins House donated by parishioners Pat Baity and attending Fifi Sheridan. “The two of them were really instrumental in that restoration,” said Snowden. And, lastly add “eight letters from Rev. Marek Zabriskie [on sabbatical], Priest Associate Rev. Terry Elsberry, Dominic Casserley, Lynne Jordal Martin, Kristen Geary, Jane Snowden, and David Michonski. Then finally Mel Wilson, our facilities associate, has written a letter and enclosed a photograph of himself as well as Jack Campanella, facilities manager. So, we’re really delighted to have their contributions.”
Then came time for Casserley to start placing those items in plastic preservation bags into the capsule. He cited Snowdon as being “an absolute star in this whole process.” After loading all in the stainless-steel capsule, he placed it at the bottom of the two-foot-deep hole, then took hold of a shovel to throw on top the first load of ceremonial soil, as Rev. Dr. McFadden read out a Blessing of the Time Capsule, also added to those 60 items.
“Blessed are you O God who has called us here to worship and serve you in our parish community. As we sow this time capsule in the ground below us today, we give you thanks for the lives that have gone before us and for the generosity and care that built our parish community. Grant that we may continue the work that they began in faith, sharing our gifts with our neighbors and all those in need. Sustain us in your love so that generations to come may find witness to you in Greenwich and beyond. Bring peace, grace, and abundance to those who discover this time capsule. We ask this in the name of Christ our lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.”
