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 National Historic Site preserves the second oldest Swedish church in the United States, founded in 1677. Located at Columbus Boulevard 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.

Cemetery

The church cemetery includes the following interments:

• John Hanson, "President" of the United States
• 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)
• Alexander Wilson (1766–1813), ornithologist and illustrator

• Richard Cantril (Cantrell) (1666-1753), The first brick mason to build a permanent structure in Philadelphia for William Penn.

Administrative history

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

Reference

• 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)
• Churches of New Sweden