Old Swedes Church and Historic Site - Paperback

by Betsy V. Christopher (Author)

Situated on high ground above the Christina River, Holy Trinity Church, known as Old Swedes, is the surviving tangible remnant of the New Sweden Colony, established in 1638. Today, the church, constructed in 1698, and its surrounding burial ground, established in 1638, are part of the Old Swedes Historic Site, which welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world. At the historic site, Delaware schoolchildren learn their state's early history; Iowans and Minnesotans research their Swedish family roots; and worshipers attend services, weddings, and funerals, as they have for 325 years. The church was declared a national historic landmark in 1961 and was included, with the burial ground, as a unit of First State National Historical Park in 2015. Tracing the legacy of the Swedish colonists in what is now Wilmington, the site offers visitors a distinctive view of the history of Delaware and the surrounding area.

Author Biography

The Old Swedes Foundation's extensive archive provided much of this volume's content, augmented by the generosity of Old Swedes parishioners, current and former, who have contributed memories and photographs previously unpublished, and the fellowship of Trinity Episcopal Church, Wilmington. Betsy V. Christopher is a writer and photographer who has worked in communications, development, and outreach for the foundation since 2013.