Evening journal., 1898-02-09
OLD SWEDES CHURCH.
Two Hundredth Anniversary
In Sight.
HISTORY OF PARISH AND CHURCH

ONE END Of lntE NOONltt1 ~
THE OTHER, AND rs THE PRIDE
OF EVERY wIIIMTNGTON1A.NS
HEART, REGARDLESS OF DE
NOMTNJATIONAL AFF1LIATION.
On Trinity Sunday, June 5, the 200th
anniversary of Old Swedos Church, this
city, will be celebrated, and the event
is being looked forward to with inter
est by all Churchmen.
| II is probable that on that day many
Of the clergy of the Delaware diocese
and others from outside will be pres
ent to do reverence to this old pile.
which marks the introduction Of the
Protestant Episcopal form Of worship
into this state
Arrangements for the celebration have
not yet been made, but II will not be
long before Bishop Coleman and Rev.
Martin B. Dunlap will confer regarding
them in their general outlines, and
later on in their particularly.
That the people may become more
intimately acquainted with the hiss
tory Of Old swedes, the Evening Jour
nal reprints from the History of Della
ware the following detailed sketch Of
the church and its work:
The history Of Trinity parish begins
In 1898, when Peter Minuit built a fort
on the north side OF Minquas Greek, at
a place called by the Indians, Hopo-
kahacking, naming Il Christina after
, the reigning queen Of Sweden.
with him came the Rev. Reorus Tor
killua as pastor OF the colony. For
p several years religious services were
held in the fort, and their churchyard
= or cemetery was on the hillside In the
b rear Of the present Church OF the
, Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) the ground
coming just halfway up the side OF the
d church.
In 1867, a timber church having been
built on the south side Of the creek on
land now owned by Richard Jackson,
s near the oldAlrich house, called Crane
e Hook, the services were transferred TO
n Il, and a cemetery laid out for the uBe
e OF the people on that side OF the creek.
% The Rev. ReOrus Torkllus died in
u Fort Christina September Z, 1913. The
y Rev. John Campanlus came over with
m Governor Printz, and remained about
y six years The Rev. Israel Holgh and
70 the Rev. Lawrence Charles liars
CarD LOkenius were sent out about that
time and the Rev. Mr.. Peter came with
one OF the bands OF colonists soon after
er Il Is uncertain whan Pastors Holgh
y, and Peter returned to Sweden, but The
a. | former about 1865. Pastor Lokeniu'
al served the churches at Tenakong anC
nd Christina, but chiefly the latetr fol
he twenty-five years, Notwithstanding h'
ad became very inirm In his latter years
he and he died In 1888.
dy The Rev. Jacob Fabricius was calleC
from New York in 1877. and notwith
standng he became blind flve year,
Z. after. he did the best he could for bOti
m churches until about 1898. After hil
ln complete disability Charles Christophe
.fe Springer. young Swede of good edu
Ia cation kept up the services by prayers
an / hymns and reading from the Postilh
,w (sermons on the GOspels). Thus the.
I seem to have been destitute of an or
dained minister for about four or nv
years.
In 1893 Springer and others o
~ both congregations sent an urgent re
K quest TO Sweden for two priests TO b
- sent over to them, and some Bibles
no hymn-books and other religious works
ne The king, Charles XI, after some della
W occasioned by the death Of his wife
~ Queen Ulrica Leanora, called to the cas-
tie Dr. Jesper Swedberg, who was a
that time provost Of the cathedral /
Upsala, gave him the letter TO read an
asked him what should be done. II
q replied I'm America, most graoiou
Tal sovereign, where there are man
in, Swedes who now need and desire mir
tt Ia "a
&C. other works OF devotion, there is
'as good opportunity TO convert the heatl
en-yea, and to see to II that the chi
dren OF Sweden do not become heather
as they dwell among Them The kin
cht answered: I'VE shall find the NEAR
an thereto, and provide them minister
his Gods word and the necessary book
TO therefore provide suitable ministers 4
sed me"
Ike Thereupon the doctor suggested thi
his majesty put the matter into Il
hands OF the archbishop, Dir. Clal
ion Swebilius, which was done with q
at proper instructions. The archbishS
laid his instructions before the Consi
tory, and after due deliberation, th'
called Andrew Rudman, OF Gestriche
candidate for the degree OF master
philosophy, and It was left to him
al | Seltcl "a ltllOW-lduOItl. Ut. oWcOut
proposed Mr.. Eric Bjork, OF Westm
ran mia, who was then in his house, bell
and tutor to the sons Of his brother, Jud
AZ SkOnstrOm.
To these two were added by Z
kings cimmand, Mr.. Jonas Aureen,
w % Wermeland, whose duty should be
1eu sl gather information of the country a
~ its inhabitants, and transmit It TO
i"ei majesty. And that he might do
more good he was ordained with
ele- Bjork at Upsala, Mr.. Rudman havi
and been ordained previously. BY the n
d. ommendation OF the archbishop,
tor king appropriated for their outfit l.;
,oid dollars copper mynt. Of which was &
da, en- MIR Rudman 500 dollars, as he h
still something TO pay for his acaden
degree of magister, which was tn
the conferred, and to each of the Oth'
the 400 dollars.
The king called the three clergym
OF into his cabinet. and told them to Z