Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-01
SKETCH OF THE OLD CHURCH.
Corperstone Laid In 160S-Tbe EdiHcs Con-
secratcd One Year Later-Oidest House OF
Worship In Use In America.

Conversions Laid IN 1boS-Ibe Edthce Com
secratcd One Year Later-Oldest House of
Worship In Use In America.
For Old Swedes Church, the positive
claim is made that it is the Oldest
church edifice in the United States
in which services are regularly held.
The cornerstone of the structure was
the pastor, the Rev. Ericus Tobias
Biorck, thus writes of it in his diary
$50 in one way or another, through
Gods grace and blessing, all was got
together, and the first foundation stone
was laid with my assistance when by
happy circumstance, Mr.. Rudman,
Mr.. Aureen and Cant. Lasse Cock were
DOWN ON the 28th of May, 1893, a
Saturday, on the north corner of the
east gable, which foundation wall is
the deepest down though not Just there
tho cornerstone stands as it seemed too
much out of the ground.
1.-The foundation was laid all around
about one foot deep except a piece in
tho south wall, and for here and there
grave-and some stumps-and not
much more was done that day"
EARLY HISTORY OF THE PARISH.
The history of the parish begins at
an earlier date than that, however, as
is pointed out by DIR. Horace Burr in
his sketch of the old church in Scharf's
History of Delaware. 1t was in 1898
north side of Minuuns Creek, at place
called by the Indians, Hopokahacking,
and named it Christin3, after the Queen
of Sweden, and here it was that the
Rev. Reorus Torkillus conducted
services for several years. Their
churchyard or cemetery was on hill
side in the rear of the present Old
Swedes. In 1867, the services were
transferred TO timber church at
Crane Hook, near the old Alrich house.
Among the successors of the Rev. Mr..
Torlsillus as the pastor of the Swedish
people in this vicinity were the Rows.
John, Campanius, Israel Holgh,
Lawrence Charles, Mr.. Peter, Mr..
LolSenius and Jacob Fabricius. From
about 1893, Charles Christopher
Springer, young Swede of good
education, conducted tho services for a
few years. Springer and others sent
request to Sweden for two priests
and religious works. As a result of
this petition Eric Biorck, Andrew
Rudman and Jonas Aureen, all ordained
men, were sent to this country, arriving
in Philadelphia about July I'd, 1857.
Mr.. Rudman took charge of the church
at Wicacoe, and Mr.. Biorck took UP
his residence in Christina, conducting
his first service in Crane Hook Church
on July 18th. The charge of Mr.. Biorck
embraced the settlement on both sides
! of the Delaware River, from what j:
, now Chester to st. Georges on the west
, side; and from Raccoon Creek (Swodes
bury to Pumpkin Hook (Penn's Neck
j on the east side. Jonas Aureen, VIII;
, did not prove very reliable, was hi:
l assistant.
, The new pastor not only instructed
the Swedes in their religious duties
r but also preached to the English II
) their own language and noted as 1
q pastor to them.
O The people at Christina soon desireJ
, church edifice of their own, so tina
/ they would not be required to 60 al
the way to Crane Hook to attent
r services, and on July Both, 1897, Charlie
/ Springer, John Nuinmerson, Hans Piet
i terson, Hendrick Juarsson and Brewe
4 Sinnike for the west side, and OIL
O Stoby, Staffan Juransson, Jacob VA
i de Yer and Ollie Fransson, for the eas
side Of the Delaware, discussed tn
selection of n site for new church
!, 1t was finally agreed to build the churo
ut Christina. One of the provision
, was that the people on this side tn
+ Delaware should furnish q canoe fo
= those from the other side who came b.
/ way of Sandhook, in order that the
. might Cross Christina Crock wthou
! having to pay for ferrying.
J. BuILpISo TIE CHURCH.
,s Hans Piatterson took tlnon himse
d to superintend the building of the me-
r church. It was at first decided to max
10 the structure 40 feet long, 30 feet wild