Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
ANCIENT BELL IS TOLLED
At BURIAL OF AGED RECTOR
Parish Two Hundred and Fifty Years
Old Has Bell Originally
Cast in 1O43.
RANG FOR EARLY SETTLERS
Antedating Appearance of William
Penn on Pennsylvania Soil, Grand
Old Instrument Still Calls Wor-
shippers to Philadelphia Church.

very interesting fact has been
noted in reference to the bell which
tolled for the burial of Rev. Snyder 3.
Shines. who was for more than forty
seven years rector of Old Swedes' or
Gloria Del Church, of Philadelphia. n
parish o,H years old. It nntedates
the appearance of William Penn upon
Pennsylvania soil. says tho Living
Church. 1t had its origin in the days
OF the early Swcdcs. who settled on
the banks Of the Delaware when John
Printz was governor In fact the
Gloria Del bell is so old that 1t makes
the famous Liberty Bell appear like
youngster in swaddling clothes.
Moreover, this Gloria Del bell Is still
In good condition. sound and servicea-
bic. whereas the Liberty Bell is cracked
and has lost it's voice forever
The inscription on the bell is inter
esting. IT reads:
Cast for the Swedish Church In
Philad'a styled Gloria Dei-G. He'd
derby Fecit-lso6-partly from the old
bell dated 1913"
Thomas Rleyer. one Of the vcstrvmen
of the parish, has In his possession
unique data bearing upon the history
of this most famous church bell in
America.
AS indicated in the inscription. the
bell was recast and enlarged in 1906
which called the Swedes to prayer back
in the year 1913. when. on a cold winter
morning, Governor Printz drove up
to the little church at Tenakong (Tini-
cuna) in his ornate sleigh. with his two
pretty daughters beside him.
GOVERNORS DAUGHTER ONCE
SOLD CHURCH AND BELL
israel Acrelius. provost of the Swcd
ish churches in America, and rector of
Old Swedes' Church in Wilmington.
Del. In one OF his historical studies
OF the early Swedes. relates an anec-
dote OF the Gloria Del bell and one of
Governor Printzs daughters. II an
pears that after her fathers death the
Swedcs on the Delaware offended this
good woman, whereupon, writes Acre
Illus, out of contempt for the Swedes
she sold from her farm the church Cat
Tinicrm) which was built upon g. as
also bell to a Hollandcr."
This action of the noble dame must
nave caused some spicy gossip in old
Philadelphia. And the worst was vet
TO come. for we learn from the same
historian that the congregation had
to buy their bell back again by two
DAYS reaping In harvest time"
Mr.. Blcyer's documents inform us
that the "old bell. dated 1913" came
from Tinicum tnow called Essinrtonl
on the west side Of the Del, =, ~
tiVer north of Darby Creek. which was
the principal settlement OF the third
swedish governor. John Printz. who
arrived February Is. 1913 Upon his
arrival at Tlnicum, the governor built
Tort, Il mansion. and n church, in the
order named. Evidently the governor
oeHeved In safety first" then comfort
and finally place to Worship in.
The bell" continues MIR BIeycr's
Iecof"' rs supposed to have been the
Hrst used by the Tinicum church in
i"fo, unless an earlier church was in
existence at that place. and continued
10 De IN use at that church until 1900
"hen' II is said. the Swedish conGrc-
eation left Tinicum and united with
Gloria Del Church. At this date :, is
supposed. the bell was removed from
Ilnicum to Philadelphia"