Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church

Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church National Historic Site
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Area	3.71 acres (15,000 m²), 2.08 acres (8,420 m²) federal
Established	November 17, 1942
Governing body	Corporation of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church

Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church is the second oldest Swedish church in the United States, founded in 1677. Located at Columbus Boulevard, previously known as Delaware Avenue, and Christian Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the present structure was erected about 1700. It is a splendid example of 17th century Swedish church architecture. In 1845, the congregation joined the Episcopal Church. It was declared a National Historic Site in 1942.

Cemetery

The church cemetery includes the following interments:

• Richard Cantril (Cantrell) (1666–1753), the first brick mason to build a permanent structure in Philadelphia for William Penn.
• John C. Hunterson, Civil War soldier and Medal of Honor recipient (issued August 2, 1897).
• William Irvine (1741–1804), Revolutionary War officer and physician.
• George Ord, Sr. (d. 1806), Revolutionary War adventurer, sea captain.
• George Ord, Jr. (1781–1866), ornithologist.
• James Peale (1749–1831), Revolutionary War officer and artist (brother of Charles Willson Peale).
• Thomas Smith (d. January 29, 1846), U.S. Congressman.
• Alexander Wilson (1766–1813), ornithologist and illustrator.

There is also a memorial to John Hanson, a President of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution.

Administrative history

The church in 1937.

The church was designated a National Historic Site on November 17, 1942. It is an affiliated area of the National Park Service under Independence National Historical Park. The church site is owned and administered by the Corporation of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.

References

• The National Parks: Index 2001-2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.

External links

• Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church
• NPS website: Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site
  • Cemetery Guide (PDF)
• Listing, photographs, and drawings at the Historic American Buildings Survey
• Churches of New Sweden
• Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church Burial Ground at Find A Grave