The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-28
A CHURCH TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
CELEBRATION OF THE SECOND CENTENNIAL OF
PRoGREss-LisT OF PASTORS.

THE socIETY-skETcH OF ITS ORIGIN AND
PRoGREss-LIsr or PASTORS.
PHILADELPHIA May 20, 1877
One OF the most Interesting Sabbath services that
will place in this nation tomorrow VIII probably
De at a obscure little church away down among the
shipping, the bonded warehouses and the crooked
byways Of the Delaware front this city. The
quaint old edihce IN question IS the Protestant Epis
copa Church OF the Gloria Del, commonly called the
Old Swedes' Church. historic building, winch with
the carefully tended graveyard surrounding II, looks
the very embodiment Of holy peace rest. as Il
nestles among tho high walls OF frowning gloomy
warehouses. making contrast such as the old artists
liked 10 paint The Old Swedes Church. which Is stil
regularly used us place OF worship. viii omorrow
celebrate It's 200th anniversary, and the building ITSELF
as stands to-day butt LIS years ago. moro
than quarter of q century before Washington was
born and more than three-qua.ters of century be-
fore this nation had an existence The ven-
cradle church is the Oldest the city, " not
In tho country and although its Interior
has been somewhat modernlzed by the addition ola
gallery and organ the outside OF the building ofa
and black brick, with quaint little bery on tho
western end, remains just us IL built II is only
thirty feet In width by sixty deep, but It was plenty
largo when II took the place OF the log church and
blockhouse Tor protection against tho Indians which
was originally used by the congregation, having
built ny the Swedes before the English settled Penn
sylvania
Al the time OF William PENIS arrival. who Is said to
have landed near this spot when he came from Ches
tor. the site the blockhouse beautiful shaded
Pno. sloping gradually down to the river North Of
IL where Christian street Is. was little inlet, and
the north side OF tho inlet another knoll which
situated the log cabin OF three Swedish brothers
swenson or Swanson, who sold TO William Penn tho
site OF Philadelphia. and who were, besides. at one
timo the owners of Southwark, Moyamcnsng and Pas
syunk. As early Trinity Sunday 1871 the first SER
mon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Fabrtius in the old
Block Church, II called. though far back
l646 tho swedes their first church on Tn
cum Island. Its distance from Wicaco rendered II SO
inco1vonent that this blockhouse originally built as
o fort some years before was converted into q
place OF worship In 1917, being aiterward used for
vine service until tho present church built
site. Trinity Sunday, 1877, therefore marks the
booth anniversary Of the dedication OF this spot the
worship OF the Almighty and the organization OF this
parish.
CHURCH
Tho original building, from the descriptions that
have been given, must have been OF very rude and
simple construction 1t was built OF logs and had loop
holes In place Of window lights, which might serve a.
OF defence In OF attack from tho Indians,
OF whom some apprehension was fot, although they
protested TO DO friendly and mingled freely with the
strangers One given for the friendly DISPOSE
ton the aborigines the pursued toward
them by the early Swedish residents The land was
purchased Of them, and they were treated in evory
way as equala
/ THE PRESENT CHURCH.
The present brick church ediace was begun on the
oath Of May 1895 and the building dedicated July
2. lI00 by the Rev Eric BJork. II Is PLAIN edicc,
with high pitched roof built very much IN the style
OF the English rural churches, with an unprctending
seepe rising twenty i've thirty feet above IT, yet
compared with Its surroundings It was regarded
masterpiece Of workmanship AS the church
erected so IL is at present day. this excep-
tion-that order to strengthen the walls which
were found to DO weak, projections built OH each
side. one OF which forms entrance to tho church
and = vestibule. Though the exterior Of tho edhce
! romans pretty much as 1t was when built the IN
original pews and heavy mouldngs and coenices which
gave 70 y a very antique look, were removed IN the
year 1885, and IL was then thoroughly modernized,
| making marked contrast between tho in
terror and exterior In making the al,
which covered the ashes Of OF the early pastors
and their wives and daughters Among others
tnosc OF the Rev. Anarcw Rudman, who died l70s;
Mrs. Margaret Robinson his daughter. In 1909; the
| Rev. John Dylander, who died IN l741 Rev. Peter
death occurred In the year 1851. These ouriis took
place under the chanceL There were also burias DO.
meath the floor OF the church. the being marked
| by mural tablets on the walls
The interior OF the present church, though changed
In appearance 10 some extent by new furniture, &c,
still retains It's ancient look. modern organ inc
south gallery now faccs the pulpit but tho carved
angels tho front Of the gallery yet look down upon
tho gathered worshippcrs. In the church yard ex-
/ tending 10 Osego street, number Of crumbng
tombstoncs remain, bearing The prints OF decay The
odcs, legbe stone in the yard marks tho resting place
OF Pastor Sanders children, who departed tins iiie
capri ye 21si, l70S," and "AugUst ye 18th, I'LL"
Other slabs date perhaps even further back. but old
Time has long since eiaced the ngurcs Among more
modern tombstoncs Is that Of Alexander Wilson, tho
great ornilhologis-
Al nrst tho congregation was Swedish-L Lutheran to
which communion they were attached until lSl3 hav
ing been Tor hundred and thirty years under tho
charge OF ministers sent IRON sweden. That par. OF
Philadelphia vas then called Wicaco from tho name
OF Indian village near by. The last oil the swedish
ministers was the Rev. Nicholas Collin who was sent
out during the Revolution and remained In charge OF
tho church until his death in 1881. He man Of
science learning and leading citizen OF Phila-
dcphia Before his death the services In the Swedsh
language ceased enIrely and the majority OF the
gregation inciiniDg TO the mode Of worship OF tho
Protestant Episcopal Church the organ car
ried 10 that communion.
Al the death OF Or. Collin after connection with
the church OF over 1ty years, the Rev Dr. Clay. who
had been his assistant succeeded to the charge, aer
being ordained the Protestant Episco pal Church
REV. Dk COLLIN
Rev. Dr. Collin IL yet remembered by some Of the
old residents OF southwark; indeed there arc q few
living who were married by him. His record OF
rages and Of his general ministerial work,
plain cgibie hand. Is preserved with grcas Tho
number OF couples united by him during his conncc-
tion OF forty-Dvc years with church ID gwen az
1915. In one year (l795 ho married 1919 couples. His
missionary connection with tho Old Swcdcs covered q
period OF tho Revolutionary ana the OF 1872
VI tho former no has lett an Interesting narrative CIV
ing particulars OF his own prvatons which must have
been very great during the he wrilos the rents
oil the church lands were insignificant by tho ncred
bic depreciation OF the Continental money, which
finally passed loo to specie dollar ana sunk In tho
hands Of tho unfortunate holders 'From this Cause,
aud from the failure OF supplies from homo, |
nj times want OF nccessar,es. while my const
tuition was much impaired BY the fever and ague,
that change OF place or the grave seemed 10 DO the
only alternative" The romans Of Dr. Colin Ito
within the church. Tho connection OF DR.. Clay with
the church continued TO the time OF bis death. amer
no had oficiated Tor thirty-tw years. HIS remains
rad with s4latn safhl afnh thA
graveyard not far from tho grave o Wilson, tho colo
bratod ornithoiogisL
GOOD
The pastors of the church from the foundation or IL
10 the present time are thus written In the records:
Rev. Andrew Rudman. Died 1I0s
Rev. Andrew SundeL Returned TO Sweden In l7l9.
Rev Jonas Lindman. Recalled 10 sweden In lisa
Rev. J. Eneborg 70 1888.
Rev Gabriel FAX. Appointed and deposed In l733.