Holy Trinity Church (Old Swedes)
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Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church
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Holy Trinity Church (Old Swedes)
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| Location | E. 7th St. and Church St., Wilmington, Delaware |
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| Coordinates | 39°44′18.14″N 75°32′26.48″W / 39.7383722°N 75.5406889°WCoordinates: 39°44′18.14″N 75°32′26.48″W / 39.7383722°N 75.5406889°W |
| Built | 1698 |
| NRHP reference # | 66000261 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 5, 1961 |
Holy Trinity Church, also known as Old Swedes, is a historic church at East 7th and Church Street in Wilmington, Delaware. It was consecrated on Trinity Sunday, June 4, 1699, by a predominantly Swedish congregation formerly of the colony of New Sweden. The church, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, is among the few surviving public buildings that reflect the Swedish colonial effort. The church is considered part of First State National Historical Park.
The church was built in 1698–99 in territory that was once the colony of New Sweden, from local blue granite and Swedish bricks that had been used as ship's ballast. The church is situated on the site of the Fort Christina's burial ground, which dates to 1638. The church claims to be "the nation's oldest church building still used for worship as originally built". There are reportedly over 15,000 burials in the churchyard. Lutheran Church services were held in the Swedish language well into the 18th century.
In 1697 the Church of Sweden renewed its commitment to Swedish settlers in the Delaware Valley and sent three missionaries, Jonas Auren, Eric Bjork, and Andreas Rudman, to the area. A total of three churches with similar architecture were built or established by Swedish communities in the area about the same time. All are generally known as "Old Swedes", and later joined the Episcopal Church. Holy Trinity in Wilmington was built in 1699. Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church in Philadelphia, about 30 miles away, was founded in 1677 and the building was completed in 1700. Trinity Church in Swedesboro, New Jersey, about 20 miles away by modern roads, was founded in 1703, with its current building completed in 1784.
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