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, which is often visited by tourists, remains open today for tours and religious activities.
History
The church was built in 1698–99 in territory that had been the colony of New Sweden until 1655. The building materials were 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 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. Five other Swedish churches were founded about this time: St. Mary Anne's Episcopal Church in the town of North East, Maryland, Old St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Douglassville, Pennsylvania, St. George's Episcopal in Churchtown, New Jersey, St. James Kingsessing in Philadelphia, and Christ Church in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania. Holy Trinity in Wilmington has housed an Episcopal parish since 1791 and is now part of the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware. An earlier church in New Sweden was built in Swanwyck, near New Castle about 1662 which was replaced by a combined church and fort at Crane Hook in 1667. In 1958 the historic Hendrickson House was moved to the grounds of the church. The church building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Trinity Parish operates two church buildings in Wilmington, both listed on the NRHP: the main building on North Adams, and Old Swedes at East 7th and Church Streets.
