USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of the Swedes on the Delaware (history of Old Swedes Church of Philadelphia) > Part 4
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I hope our spiritual fathers will assist us with some of the newly printed books, particularly two church Bibles, as those we have are not fit to be used in divine service; there are always opportunities between England and this country. I cannot mention, with- out astonishment, but to the honour of these people, that we hardly found here three Swedish books; but they were so anxious for the improvement of their children, that they lent them to one another, so that they can all read tolerably well. None of the books that his majesty graciously gave to us are now out of use; they are distributed among the families, who bless the king for that valuable present, for which they are truly glad and thankful. May Almighty God preserve his majesty, the royal family, and our dear country, in peace and gladness. Though distant from it we shall never cease while we breathe, to offer up our prayers to Heaven for its prosperity."
About the same time the Rev. Mr. Rudman wrote to Professor Jacob Arrhenius, at Upsala. His state- ments are in agreement with those of the very inter- esting letter above quoted. We here give some ex- tracts. His letter is dated 20th of October, 1697.
"Our ship arrived in Virginia, and from thence we sailed to Maryland, where we left her on the 23d of June, and proceeded up the Bay in a sloop to Elk river. There we immediately found Swedes, who
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heartily rejoiced at our arrival. The news of it spread through the whole country ; the people came in haste from a distance of more than thirty miles, and con- ducted us to their places of meeting, where, after we had waited on the governor, they were called together, and our credentials were read to them. Then we entered in God's name upon our holy office, I officiat- ing to the upper congregations at Wicaco, and the Rev. Mr. Biork to the lower at Christina.
"The churches are old and in bad condition. Wherefore, with God's help, we are endeavouring to build new ones. The lower one is at Christina; the upper at Wicaco, or Passyunk. The minister's gar- den and mansion house are at the distance of four English miles* from Philadelphia, a clever town, built by Quakers. The population is very thin and scat- tered, all along the river shore; so that some have sixteen miles to walk or ride to go to church. Never- theless, they very regularly attend divine service on Sundays, &c.
"The houses are built after the Swedish manner. The women brew excellent drink, as in Sweden ; they have also a liquor made of apples or peaches which they call cider; it is very pleasant to the taste, and very wholesome.
"In order to build our church, we are about to
* Near Point Breeze, on the Schuylkill, where some wished the new church built, as will be seen in the sequel.
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raise the sum of four hundred pounds sterling; but that will not be difficult, they are so very glad to have us among them ; they look upon us as if we were angels from heaven. Of this they have assured me with many tears; and we may truly say, that there is no place in the world where a clergyman may be so happy, and so well beloved, as in this country.
"The English have received us extremely well, and some of them even come to our meetings. We live scattered among the English and Quakers, yet our language is preserved as pure as anywhere in Sweden. There are about twelve hundred persons that speak it. There are also Welshmen, who speak their own mother tongue, besides Englishmen, Dutchmen, and some Frenchmen. Almost every one can read, at which we are much rejoiced. God be thankful for his goodness, which has never yet been wanting to us.
"As to the government, it is very mild, and the people live quietly under Governor William Mark- ham, who is exceedingly well-disposed towards us. He has reproached us with not going often enough to see him, and has left us quite at liberty as to our church discipline. There are many Swedes employed in the administration of this government; some of them are counsellors, whom they call judges; many of them are officers, captains, constables, ensigns, &c. There is plenty of work for us. We are alone; our congregations are scattered, our youth numerous, and
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but few that do not require instruction. We have schools and churches to build, &c., &c."
It was an important matter to have good churches, in which the different congregations might attend for divine worship, as those that were found here were decayed, and scarcely habitable. The first thing, therefore, that occupied the attention of these worthy missionaries was, the erection at once of two com- modious edifices in which to hold divine service; one for the lower congregation, and one for the upper. How the Swedes at Christina proceeded with the work there, will appear from the following extracts of a letter written by the Rev. Biork to the Hon. Charles Wystrom, dated 19th of November, 1700.
"Shortly after my arrival at this place, I per- suaded the congregation to agree in selecting a better place for a church than Tranhook, to wit, Christina ; and I immediately commenced the work, in the Lord's name, though with little money : but I never doubted, notwithstanding my unworthiness, of divine assist- ance. I therefore made a bargain with bricklayers and carpenters, and bound them and me so strongly, that otherwise the work would not have been finished in less than three years. We laid the first stone at the north corner on the 28th of May, 1698. The size of the church,* inside of the walls, is sixty feet in length,
* This church is still standing, though in a ruinous and dilapidated condition.
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thirty feet in breadth, and twenty feet in height. The walls are of hard gray stone up to the windows, and three and a half feet thick ; but above that only two feet.
"There are four doors; a large one at the west end, and a similar one at the south: there are two smaller ones on the north side, one of which leads into the vestry-room. There are two windows on the north, and two on the south, all of the same size; but there is a larger one at the east end, and a small one over the western door. There is a small belfry at the east end. The roof is arched with logs, and plas- tered. It is covered with cedar shingles.
"The pews in the church are made of fir; the chancel is circular, and the inner banister, as well as the pulpit, of walnut wood, well turned. There is a large aisle, eight feet in breadth, from the chancel to the large door, and across the aisle from the north door to that on the south. Between the chancel and the first row of pews there is also a little way with six pews on each side, to the cross aisle. There are also long pews along the wall for the men, from the south door to the east end; and there are seats in the chancel for the ministers. In the lower part of the church, from the north and south doors to that on the west, there is a large aisle, with eight pews on each side."
The church thus erected, with a zeal and enterprize so praiseworthy, was, on Trinity Sunday in the fol-
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lowing year, 1699, dedicated to the service of Al- mighty God. On that occasion the Rev. Mr. Rudman preached the sermon, having taken his text from Psalm 126.3. "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." The name of Trinity church was given to the building, in honour of the Triune God. "Mr. Rudman and I," says Mr. Biork, "were clad in white surplices, made after our manner, as well as could be done; but other church vestments could not be procured here. The Rev. Mr. Auren preached afterwards at the celebration of the Lord's supper, where we made a collection of about two hun- dred dollars; for there were many hundred persons present of all religions, whom I entertained after- wards with meat and drink in the best manner I could. The neighbours all around partook of the feast, and several carried provisions home with them."
The Swedes near Philadelphia commenced their preparations for the building of a new church, at the same time with those at Christina ; but the under- taking was delayed for a year or two on account of their not being able to agree among themselves as to where the building should be erected. Those who resided on the banks of the Schuylkill, and lower down, wished the church to be built at a place called Passyunk, (now Point Breeze,) where the clergyman resided on a glebe belonging to the congregation. On the other hand, the Swedes near to Philadelphia and
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higher up wished it built at Wicaco, on the Delaware, half a mile below the city, though now within its limits. It was here the old church stood, erected in 1669, and which had been used also for a blockhouse, but which was now considered as not worth repairing. There was also a burial ground here, in which the Swedish families, on both sides of the river, had for many years interred their dead. Neither Wicaco nor Passyunk was entirely central in its location; and wherever the church might have been built, a large part of the congregation would have still had to travel several miles in getting to it.
As far as Mr. Rudman himself expressed an opinion on this question, he preferred having the church at Passyunk, as being more convenient to his residence. But he was not tenacious on this point, and was only anxious for harmony and peace. Many conferences having resulted in no decision of the question, a gen- eral meeting of the congregation was finally called on the 17th of May, 1698. A tedious discussion of the subject proving fruitless, the lower inhabitants pro- posed to have the matter decided by lot. To this the upper members were at first opposed, but through the persuasions of Mr. Rudman were induced afterwards to agree. Having by prayer and singing invoked the blessing of God on the undertaking, two pieces of paper were prepared, on one of which was written Wicaco, and on the other Passyunk; these were shaken
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in a hat, and thrown upon the ground, when, upon taking one up, and opening it, the name of Wicaco appeared. Dissension at once ceased, and all joined in a cheerful hymn of praise. At the same time the agreement was ratified by the following persons sign- ing their names to a suitable instrument of writing, viz. Andrew Rudman, Capt. Lorence Cox, Andrew Bancson, Casper Fish, Peter Rambo, Gustavus Justis, Elias Toy, Michael Lycon, Charles Springer, Andrew Rambo, Matthias Morton, Gabriel Cox, John Cox, jr., Hans Boon, Nich: Lycon, Richard Rhodes, Gunnar Swanson, Christian Clæson, Laurence Holsten.
Jonas Biurstroem, witness.
After the above statement of the dispute in relation to the site for the church, there was difficulty and uneasiness in another form. The family of Swan Swanson (then spelt Svan Svanson) had given the ground on which the old church stood,* and had
* As the question is often asked, by what tenure does the Wicaco church hold its property, it is thought proper to give the following information. That on which the church stands, containing one acre and a half and five perches, was given, as above remarked, by the Swanson family. The deed is from Catharine Swanson, widow of Swan Swanson, Swan Boon and Brigita his wife, one of the daughters of Swan Swanson ; Hans Boon and Barbara his wife, another of the daughters; and Peter Bankson and Catharine his wife, a third daughter. Also, an acre of ground, north of the church, on which the old and new parsonage houses stand, was given by Hans Boon and Barbara his wife, "for the use, benefit and behoof
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lately increased it part of an acre ; but the congrega- tion desired a small addition down to the river, in order to prevent ship-building in front of the church, and the danger which would thereby be incurred from fire; they also wished for permission to build a small house for a sexton, to guard the church from injury. With some difficulty the first request was granted, the other denied. This denial led to fresh dissatisfaction ; in consequence of which Mr. Rudman, in order to accommodate both the upper and lower members of the parish, proposed that the new church should be built at Passyunk, and the old one at Wicaco be repaired, and that divine service should be held part of the year in one, and part in the other. This pro- posal was not acceded to. Mr. R. wearied with this unpleasant state of things, had for some time been threatening to leave them. Accordingly, on the seventh Sunday after Trinity, being the 31st of July, 1698, he concluded his sermon with a feeling address, of the minister of the Swedish congregation for the time being, and his successors for ever."
There is a third deed, dated 19th June, 1719, from Martha Cock, daughter of Jno. Cock and Margaret his wife, one of the daughters of Swan Swanson, to Peter Rambo, Jno. Stille, John Scute, and Jesta Jestason, for twenty-five acres of land, lying near the Wicaco church, in trust, "for the use, benefit and behoof of the minister of the Swedish congregation for the time being, and his successors for ever, in the nature of glebe land, &c." These twenty-five acres were purchased by the congregation for the sum of ninety pounds.
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in which he reminded them of his unceasing parochial labours, and his repeated efforts to unite them, but that having failed in the object of his wishes, he had come to the determination to leave them, and would take that opportunity of bidding them farewell. He soon after went to Christina, where he remained till the sixth of September.
After the departure of Mr. Rudman, Mr. Biork visited the congregation, and preached for them on the tenth Sunday after Trinity, the Gospel for which day relates the weeping of Christ over Jerusalem. His exertions had a good effect. The congregation were brought to a better mind, and sent deputies to Christina, desiring a conference with the Rev. Messrs. Rudman and Biork. These deputies were instructed to ask forgiveness, to submit the whole matter in dis- pute to the decision of these clergymen, to renew their subscriptions for the church, and to secure future har- mony by fining any person ten pounds who should again cause any dispute. We would not omit to remark, that the Rev. Mr. Auren also had aided in restoring the people to a state of harmony and peace.
Mr. Rudman, equally anxious with the congrega- tion to see differences healed, went back with the deputies, resolved to meet future difficulties with christian forbearance-" sensible," to use his own language, "that the ministers of God have little else
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to expect but trouble." He took advantage, without delay, of the present favourable circumstances ; pro- cured a written assurance of the ground to the river ; obtained the governor's consent to what was proposed to be done, and for a bridge or ferry across the Schuylkill, for the convenience of the people on the other side; and made arrangements to bring materials for the new church at Wicaco, from the old one at Tinicum. All which, on the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, was in proper form proclaimed in the English language.
The same bricklayers and carpenters who had built the church at Christina, were employed to build the one at Wicaco; and the work went on so successfully, that on the second day of July, being the first Sunday after Trinity, in the year 1700, every thing was finished; and on that day the dedication took place, when the Rev. Mr. Biork preached from 2 Sam. v. 29: "Therefore, now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it; and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever." On this occasion there were a great many English persons and others present from Philadelphia, for whose benefit Mr. Biork delivered a summary of his discourse in the English language.
" This church," says Mr. Biork, in one of his let-
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GLORIA DEI (WICACO) CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA Reproduction of a woodeut in the 1835 edition of "Annals of the Swedes." Church erected in 1700. See frontispiece for its appearance in 1914
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ters to Sweden, "is of the same size as the other, only that one of the corners is shortened in order to make room for a belfry or steeple, which has been begun at the west end, but must remain for some time unfin- ished, in order to see whether God will bless us so far as that we may have a bell, and in what manner we can procure it. This church is built of stone to the top of the foundation, but not so good as that of which the lower church is built. The buildings will cost us, according to our reckoning, about twenty thousand dollars, Swedish money, and something more; of which I am yet indebted in five thousand dollars, and my colleague is in about the same situa- tion. We have nothing to rely on but the efforts of the congregations to raise that money as well as they can.
"Thus, through God's blessing, we have completed the great work, and built two fine churches, superior to any built in this country, particularly that at Christina ; so that the English themselves, who now govern this province, and are beyond measure richer than we are, wonder at what we have done. It is but lately that two governors, with their suites, have come to this place, and visited our churches. The one is Francis Nicholson, governor of Maryland, and our great patron ; the other is named Blackstone, and is governor of Virginia. With all this we want some ornaments for our church, which are not to be pro-
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cured here, such as a couple of bells, handsome chalices and pattens, and chandeliers or lustres. We have also room for a small organ. If we should obtain these things through the generosity of those who are able and willing to honour themselves by honouring their Maker, we shall consider it as a particular mark of divine favour, and their names shall be recorded as benefactors of our church. In the meanwhile, we are well satisfied with the blessings that we have re- ceived from Almighty God; we hope he will preserve our country from the war* that is impending, and seems to threaten Sweden. We hope also that in time we shall have obtained the things that we most want, particularly books. I have at last established a school here, with an able teacher at the head of it, who also serves as parish clerk, an office which I was before obliged to perform. Things are not yet on such a steady footing as I could wish, but I shall do all I can, and no man can do more.
"Our congregations more and more require our care and attention. My colleague and I do all in our power to have divine service performed here as in Sweden ; we instruct the people in their catechism; we travel from place to place, and from house to house ; in short, we do all in our power to fulfil the important duties that are imposed upon us."
* The succession war for the crown of Spain, in which Eng- land was engaged against France.
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The king of Sweden having promised the Rev. Mr. Rudman and his colleague leave to return home after a few years, he, in the year 1701, with the advice of the archbishop, Dr. Benzelius, appointed the Rev. Andrew Sandel to come over, and take charge of the Wicaco Church. This gentleman left Sweden on the 21st of August of that year : and after some detention in England, and the usual tedious passage of those days across the Atlantic, arrived in the Delaware on the 12th of March following, and had his first inter- view with Mr. Rudman on the 18th of the same month. Mr. Rudman's intention now was to return to Swe- den; but the Dutch inhabitants of New York and Albany having been for many years without a preacher, invited him to settle among them. Their destitute condition, and the fear lest they might fall away from the pure faith of the Gospel, induced him to comply with their request. He accordingly preached his farewell sermon at Wicaco on the 19th of July, and departed the next day to enter upon the duties of his new charge.
How long Mr. Rudman officiated in New York is not known. He found, however, that the climate did not agree with his constitution, and his health becom- ing impaired, he took measures to procure for them a Dutch clergyman to supply his place. A student of divinity, by the name of Justus Falkner, arrived ; who was ordained in Wicaco church by the Rev.
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Messrs. Rudman, Biork, and Sandel .* After leaving New York, Mr. Rudman officiated for some time at the English church at Oxford; and afterwards, upon the Rev. Mr. Evans leaving this for England, he took charge of Christ Church in this city. He continued to officiate in that until his death, which took place on the 17th of September, A. D. 1708, aged forty years. His remains lie beneath the chancel in the Wicaco Church. He appears to have been much be- loved by the Swedes of that period, and their descend- ants will long hold in grateful remembrance his self- denial and faithfulness as a minister of Christ.
The year after Mr. Sandel had taken charge of the congregation, a meeting was called to take into con- sideration the state of the church walls, which had perceptibly given way. A large majority of the per- sons present were in favour of strengthening them by means of iron work; but before coming to any final conclusion, it was deemed advisable to consult on the subject, some person of approved judgment. A com- mittee, consisting of Matthias Keen, Hans Lycon, John Cox, and Peter Bankson, was appointed, to con- sult with a Mr. Peter Deal, who was thought a com-
* This ordination by presbyters, instead of by a bishop, was the best their situation, or the circumstances in which they were placed, enabled them to obtain. A sister church wanted a pastor, and they had to decide between letting them go unsupplied, or giving them one with defective orders; or, perhaps, they thought such orders would do for the Dutch.
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petent judge. This committee reported that Mr. Deal was of opinion that porches built on each side of the church, would be the best means of strengthen- ing the walls. This plan, though more expensive than the other, of iron clamps, was unanimously approved, especially as one wing would answer for a vestry- room, and the other for a vestibule or entrance to the church. A subscription was at once opened for the purpose, and the persons present put down their names for 1091. 4s. Mr. Sandel complains that this building gave him a great deal of trouble, many of the subscribers being backward in making payment, though the wardens were attentive to their duties. The workmen were anxious to be paid, and he was obliged, with one of the wardens, to go from house to house to collect what was due.
On the 3d of February, 1704, John Evans, a Welchman, arrived from England as governor of the province. On which occasion the Rev. Mr. Sandel, and fifteen of the oldest members of the congrega- tion, paid their respects to him.
In 1705 the upper inhabitants* made application for occasional services in their neighborhood, in the winter season, because of their distance from the church. It was agreed that the rector should officiate there twice during the winter season.
* Meaning, I suppose, those at Upper Merion, or perhaps, up the Delaware towards Bristol.
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Very soon after the church was built, arrangements were made for renting the pews. It is proper to men- tion this, because in our time there are a few persons, descendants of the ancient Swedes, who claim all the rights appertaining to membership, such as the right to bury in the Swedish ground, the right to vote at elections, &c., simply because their forefathers as- sisted in building the church, or purchasing the ground, and independently of any present payment of pew-rent. This claim is unreasonable and contrary to ancient usage. It was never intended by those who built the church, or purchased the lands belonging to the church, that their posterity should enjoy such rights absolutely, and without any restriction. At a meeting of the congregation, held on the first of May, A. D. 1705, the following resolution was adopted :- "Those who, with their families, remove from our congregation, and cannot, or will not attend divine worship, or will not submit to the rules of our church, shall themselves and heirs lose their rights altogether." If rights, then, could be lost within five years of the time when the church was built, and by those who had helped to build it, why should their posterity, more than 130 years afterwards, hold such rights by a tenure admitting of no restriction?
About this time (1705) another donation of books was received from Sweden, consisting of bibles, prayer- books, primers, and spiritual meditations. They were
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