Andreas Rudman

Andreas Rudman (November 3, 1668 – September 17, 1708) was a pioneer Swedish-American Lutheran minister. He was pastor of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church in Philadelphia and was appointed Suffragan bishop of the Lutheran Church in America.

Anders Rudman was born in Gävle, Gästrikland Province, Sweden, the son of Johan Augustison Rudolph and Magdalen Nilsdotter. After completing his studies and securing a degree at the University of Uppsala, he was ordained into the Church of Sweden.

In February 1696, Rudman was selected to lead the delegation being sent by King Charles XI of Sweden to serve the Swedish Lutheran congregations in the former colony of New Sweden. In late July 1696, Rudman and fellow Lutheran pastor Eric Björk left on the ship Palmboom, destined for London. Arriving in London in early October 1696, Rudman and his party called on William Penn, Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania.

Rudman and Björk were aboard the ship Jeffries which anchored in the James River in Virginia in June 1697. They subsequently arrived at the Swedish settlement located at the Head of Elk (present Elkton, Maryland). The Swedes had established an early trading post at this location which they called Sahakitko. Rudman and Björk next met with the congregation at Wicaco (now South Philadelphia) and with the congregation at Crane Hook. Rudman, as the senior pastor, chose the Wicaco congregation as his own. Björk became pastor at the church then located at Crane Hook, now Holy Trinity Church (Old Swedes).

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