The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-02-28
rwo CENTURIES OLD.
Short History OF the Old Swade Church
at Wilmington, Delaware.

The most interesting feature Of VIII
mington, is the old Swede Church,
standing on the outskirts Of the city,
near the Christina, just above the rocks
where in old days Minnit planted his
fort. I am of opinion that we have no
church quite SO interesting, as regards
age, origin and architecture. It is
probably the oldest which remains ex-
actly as it left the hands of its builders;
'.1698'' is the date in iron letters on the
west gable. The building stands in a
wide place of graves, a little back from
Christina creek, and mile west OF the
Delaware. The church is built OF gray
stone sixty feet long, thirty feet wide
and twenty feet high. The walls are
six feet thick at the base and three feet
at the windows. There are five of the
latter, large and arched in the style OF
the old Norman, as are thethree heavy
doors. There are Inscriptions ON all
four sides in iron letters SET into the
walls, the main inscription being on
the west gable.
Within the church is as quaint aud
old as when Dutch Peter, the battle
SCARED sexton, hauled live Goals from
the old cannon stove upon the brick
floor to warm it, The old cedar roof,
fir pews aud quaint pulpit, with It's
high sounding board, are very inter-
esting specimens indeed ofearly church
furniture
The inscriptions recall the very IN
! teresting circumstances under which
the church was built. After the cap
ture by the Dutch (1655). the Swedes
were very much scattered, and found
it extremely difficult to secure pastors.
| They were of the Lutheran faith of the
! pure Augsburg Confession, and secured
now and then 8 minister from the
churches at New York, their last one
from this source being the Rev. Jaeo-
bus Fabritius, called in 1917, who be-
came blind and ineapacitated in 1882
They made frequent but vain appeals
to the home church to send them two
ministers, with Bibles. catechisms and
other goodly books to protect them
from the false teachers and strange
sects,' by whom they were surrounded.
At last, in 1898, they appealed to
Charles XII. of Sweden, an appeal very
interesting to US from statement 1t
contains that there were then 1873 Swe-
dish families, comprising 942 persons.
living on the Delaware. Charles was
much interested by the letters. but tie
death of his Queen. Uhica Eleanora,
soon after, and pressing affairs of state
| delayed the American matter for some
time. In 1896 it was revived. Andrew
Rudman. candidate, was selected as
missionary to America, and he in turn
chose two other godly men, Eric Bjork
and Josias Aurran, as companions and
eo-workers. The King gave them for
their outfit thirteen hundred dollars
copper mint, and FIVE hundred copies
of Luther's Catechism, with Bibles,
pastils and church books, each bearing
the Kings name in gilt letters As the
three were about to depart he granted
them personal interview, at which
he gave them one hundred dollars sill
yer mint" additional for their voyage,
and informed them that he had
ordered the Swedish Ambassador in
London to procure passports and see
them safely on their way. go now,
he concluded. sin the name of the
Lord to the place TO which | send you.
God be with you and make you indeed
suecessful!' Furnished with a safe CON
duct from England, they came safely
to Maryland, thence they travelled
overland to Wilmington and Philadel-
phia, Rudman taking the parish at
Wicaeoa, near the latter place, and
Bjork that of Crane Hook. near VIII
mington. The people OF Wilmington
thought that a church should be reared
in their village; those at Crane Hook
opposed any change; at last, as a com
promise, it was agreed to place it on
the banks of the Christina, so that the
people from the outlying districts
could come in boats in summer and
sleigh in winter, and also for the pro-
lection afforded by the fort. John
Stalcop, a church warden, gave the
land. They began building on May %,
1898. The edifice was consecrated as
Trinity Church, on Trinity Sunday,
1899. The occasion was made a day Of
great rejoicing Governor Markham
was invited, but was unable to be
present. The feast was spread in the
house of John Stalcop. All sorts Of
meat and drink. we are told, were con-
tributed-wheat, malt, bread, flour,
hops, wine, butter, sugar, raisins, eggs,
veal, mutton, venison, chickens, tur-
keys, turnips, etc. The congregation
ate the dinner together. rejoicing and
praising God" For years after the
anniversary was observed Commun-
ions and baptisrnal services were long
celebrated with the chaliee and plate
sent over by the copper-workers of
Sweden to Pastor Bjorl. and the Bible
long used was that given By Queen
Anne, in 1712. Wilmington Cor. NJ 4
Post
o.