The Oldest Church in Pennsylvania Is Filled With Rich History

Centers of worship have been common for centuries. These places have served as a way to calm people to ensure that there was positivity in their lives. They also served as sanctuaries. As the United States grew, many people established churches of their distinctive religion — from Quaker to Catholic to Episcopalian — in the original 13 colonies. 

Let’s take a look at the oldest church in Pennsylvania. It’s over 320 years old! We’ll go through the facts of when it was built, the location, and the wildlife in the area. 

Location

The Gloria Dei Church, which is known in the local area as the Old Swedes’ Church, is located in Philadelphia, PA. The Southwark neighborhood church is the oldest church in Pennsylvania, but the second oldest Swedish church in the country. There is also a cemetery on the grounds of where the church is located.

When Was It Built?

The church was built in the late 1690s and was finished in 1700. The church has a combination of the medieval and Gothic styles of architecture. Several additions happened afterward like renovations to the vestry and entryway, as well as roof fixes. There were also some interior changes made in the mid-1840s. Although the congregation started meeting in 1646 on Tinicum Island, the churchgoers decided to move in 1677 to the site where it is now. At the time of its construction, it was a Swedish Lutheran Church that eventually became Episcopalian in 1845. The interior of the church contains religious artifacts from its 300-year history. 

Major Events

Gloria Dei Church saw a lot of history take place throughout its 300-plus years. Let’s take a look at some major events that happened. 

• American Revolutionary War hero and artist James Peale died in 1831 and was buried on the grounds of the Gloria Dei Church.
• The church became part of the Episcopalian religion in 1845. 
• On November 17, 1942, the church was designated as a National Historic Site.
• On October 15, 1966, the church was officially placed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Wildlife

The wildlife in Philadelphia is quite abundant, although the animals found in the area are more city animals than those found in forests or the open air. The animals you can find while walking through the streets of Philadelphia include several mammals like raccoons, skunks, foxes, squirrels, and opossums. There are also many types of birds and reptiles in the area.

Conclusion

And there you have it, the oldest church in Pennsylvania is Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Episcopal Church. Located in Philadelphia, PA, the church is a whopping 320 years old. The church has seen so much in the past 300 years that it is steeped with so much history. Just imagine walking through the halls of the church and you can easily transport yourself back to when colonists arrived in America and established communities in what was to become the United States.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Graphixmania from graphixmania, Fatih Kaya/ via Canva.com