Zwingli UCC in Souderton holds cornerstone ceremony 50 years to the day after church was formed

A couple years ago, the Zwingli United Church of Christ on Wile Avenue in Souderton had some bad luck.

In late June 2008, Senior Pastor Butch Kuykendall woke to a phone call from a member of the church saying his church was engulfed in flames.

About four years later, on Sept. 30, 2012, Kuykendall placed a white cornerstone in the outside wall of the church, marking the official end of reconstruction following the fire. The event took place 50 years to the day after the church was formed in Souderton in 1962.

The church was originally founded in 1887, which means this year marks the churchs 125th anniversary.

After the fire, in which no one was seriously hurt, according to Kuykendall, the church began fundraising to reconstruct the church. In the meantime, services were held at the Indian Valley Boys & Girls Clubs gymnasium a spot where Kuykendall would give sermons for about three years.

They [the Boys & Girls Club] were wonderful, as was Univest, who Kuykendall said gave them office space for their administrative needs.

Attendance remained fairly consistent throughout the years at the Boys & Girls Club, according to Kuykendall, and the church actually gained members. Some members joined the church during the time services were at the Boys & Girls Club, while other members have been with the church for 60 years, Kuykendall said.

The community really supported us, said Kuykendall, who will have been a pastor at the church for 15 years this coming February. It was incredible.

About two years after the fire, reconstruction of the church started, and it would end up taking a little over three years to finish it.

In August 2011, the members moved back to their location on Wile Avenue, though construction wasnt fully finished. Continued...

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Zwingli UCC in Souderton holds cornerstone ceremony 50 years to the day after church was formed