Gloria Dei is the oldest church in
Pennsylvania and second oldest
Swedish church in the United States after
Holy Trinity Church (Old Swedes) in
Wilmington, Delaware.
Swedish pioneers of
New Sweden were the first to settle the area in 1646. An existing blockhouse at
Wicaco (now South Philadelphia), had been renovated for worship in 1677 and was used until the present church (built beginning in 1698) was consecrated on the First Sunday after
Trinity, June 2, 1700. Colonial painter
Gustavus Hesselius was a member here. In 1703, Gloria Dei was the site of the first regular
Lutheran ordination in the Americas, that of
Justus Falckner, a German theology student.
Jenny Lind sang here during one of her American tours. Hanging in the center aisle is a Swedish chandelier given by famous Swedish artist
Carl Milles. Recollections of many
Swedish royal and episcopal visits are treasured memories, including models of
Fogel Grip and
Kalmar Nyckel, the first Swedish ships to arrive in New Sweden. The church has a collection of historical and religious artifacts the church has acquired over three centuries, including bronze crosses and 18th century Bibles in Swedish and English. In 1845, the formerly Swedish Lutheran congregation joined the
Episcopal Church. Today the church is owned and maintained by its congregation of Episcopalians. The church was designated a
National Historic Site on November 17, 1942. It is an affiliated area of the
National Park Service under
Independence National Historical Park. The church site is owned and administered by the Corporation of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Gloria Dei shared an annual brotherhood service with the
Neziner Congregation synagogue located on South 2nd Street by Catherine. The two congregations held one in 1947 and again in 1949. Neziner joined Goria Dei Old Swedes in February 1954 to welcome Governor
John S. Fine opening Brotherhood Week. In February 1956, members of Old Swedes attended Neziner for Purim eve services and celebrations, and Neziner attended Old Swedes in support of Brotherhood Week. Neziner would close in 1983 and be absorbed into Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel in Rittenhouse Square. ==Swedish pastors==