Fr. Schwartz was his tutor and mentor. His saintly approach and integrity left a good impression on the young Raja. Schwartz was instrumental in getting the kingdom from the British who were about to take over Thanjavur region as there was no legal heir. He was not happy with the British rule and frequently complained of the insincerity and avarice of the British.
In the Church, there is a monument or tablet made by John Flaxman on the orders of the Raja of Thanjavur that shows the King holding the hand of the dying Lutheran missionary – evangelist whilst receiving his blessing. The monument is in white marble and is a popular attraction for tourists.
A legacy of Thanjavur’s colonial past, Schwartz Church continues to be cited as an important shrine by believers of the Christian Faith of the God’s work being carried across the seas by those entrusted with it. Rev. Schwartz was an early pioneer in the field of education and was responsible for founding many Christian mission schools in this area to impart education to the natives. He was the first to introduce English in St. Peter’s School of Thanjavur. This school is one of the oldest schools in India.
Schwartz used to live on the church premises in the north-west part of the church. Schwartz in his capacity as a Danish priest had close relationship with the British East India Company and was quite familiar with higher officials at Madras. There is a monument to Rev. Schwarz by John Bacon arranged by the British East India Company in St Mary’s church at Chennai (formerly Madras). There is a well-known school named after Rev. Schwartz in Ramanathapuram, Tamilnadu and Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, was an old student of that school.