the_content() disappears on a static page

I have a custom template that was showing the content of the page that uses it and also a web form included in it. This works fine as:

<main><article>

		<?php if(have_posts()) : ?>
		<?php while(have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>

			<h1><?php the_title(); ?></h1>

			<?php the_content(); ?>

			<!-- Contact form -->
			<?php include('./includes/contact_form.php'); ?>
			<!-- End contact form -->

		<?php endwhile; ?>
		<?php endif; ?>

	</article></main>

but when I try to change the order so that the webform appears at the top of the page the other content disappears leaving just the web form on the page:

<main><article>

		<?php if(have_posts()) : ?>
		<?php while(have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>

			<h1><?php the_title(); ?></h1>

			<!-- Contact form -->
			<?php include('./includes/contact_form.php'); ?>
			<!-- End contact form -->

			<?php the_content(); ?>

		<?php endwhile; ?>
		<?php endif; ?>

	</article></main>