Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church in Swedesboro, New Jersey

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When we tend to think about the origins of our nation, we can easily forget that before we signed the Declaration of Independence from British rule 250 years ago, settlers from other nations came to the New World to form communities in the name of their countries of origin. For example, before New York was named after York, England, it began as “New Amsterdam.” The same can be said of a certain stretch of land that became part of New Jersey. 

Even though the Anglo-Dutch Wars in the middle 1600’s established that land formerly known as Dutch territory belonged to England thereafter, it did not stop groups from other nations from settling in the new colonies. The history of Trinity Church begins in 1703, when a log cabin was built by Swedish and Finnish settlers to serve as a church in the territory known at the time as New Sweden. 

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The Swedish Lutherans on the east side of the Delaware River grew tired of making the time-consuming and hazardous trek across the river to attend Lutheran services in Christina or Wicaco (now Wilmington, Delaware) and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The church the settlers built – The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church at Raccoon – became the first Swedish church built in New Jersey. Clergymen were sent directly by the Lutheran Church of Sweden to tend to the congregants from the church's founding in 1703 until 1786.

The church, situated along the much-traveled King's Highway, began to lease land to settlers. Some of those leases stretched into the early 1900’s.  The people of the growing town renamed Raccoon, “Swedesboro.”

But with the American Revolution came troubled times for the last rector of the Lutheran Church – Reverend Nicholas Collin. During the war, it was rumored that Reverend Collin held pro-Tory sentiments, which did not sit well with the Patriot soldiers. The militia held him prisoner. He said he was “under close guard by a strong escort with loaded guns and fixed bayonets, and judging from their barbaric expressions, I often expected death.”

For a few weeks, American General Anthony Wayne’s troops used the church as a barracks. Wayne used the minister’s home as his headquarters. Not only was the church occupied at one time by American troops, but it was almost burned to the ground by British forces. British General Cornwallis was on his way to the Battle of Red Bank when he spied Trinity and was determined to destroy it. However, he mistook the Lutheran church for an Anglican Church when he saw clergymen dressed in vestments.  He assumed it was a funeral and instead commanded his men to pause to bow their heads in respect of the dead.

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Reverend Collins was the last Lutheran minister assigned to the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church. With the changing of a new nation, a denominational shift also occurred. Changes also were in store for the building itself.

Due to the log cabin's age and the wear and tear from the soldiers’ occupation, construction began on a new church. The church was built in 1783, with a Georgian design similar to Christ Church and St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia.  It was at that time that Reverend Collins left, the church switched to an Episcopal affiliation, and Reverend John Croes became the church's first Episcopal minister. He later became the first Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey.

The building that was erected in 1783 has steadily served its parishioners and the community of Swedesboro ever since. In 1838, an impressive tower was added to the church, rumored to have been designed by the architect of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, William Strickland. In the mid-1990’s, Old Swedes underwent a major architectural and structural restoration. In 2005, another restoration project stabilized the bell tower and some roof trusses. They also changed the roof to resemble its original wood shingles. 

For the past 250 years, our nation has welcomed people from all nations, creeds, ages, and stations. Trinity Episcopal Old Swedes Church is considered a National Historical landmark. It is the only parish in New Jersey that has been in active service for over 300 years. It’s also the third-oldest Swedish Church in the United States. Former members include two brigadier generals and a former governor. The grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. Sunday worship is 10:30 AM weekly at 1208 Kings Highway, Swedesboro, New Jersey.

• Rebecca Jones

  Rebecca Jones is a freelance writer who lives in Seaford, Delaware, with her husband Tim and her youngest son—a musically gifted young man named Samuel. She is equally proud of her birds who have flown from the nest: Glenn, Daniel, and Rachel, and loves her role as mother-in-law to Taylor and Conner. She also relishes being referred to by a new title—"Oma." She is owned by her three beautiful kitties -- Shiloh, Fritzie, and Baby -- and plays frisbee with her playmate: a dog named "Ringo."

  Rebecca makes her spiritual home at Abundant Life Church, Donovan's Road, Georgetown, where she helps in whichever capacity she is able and available.

  Rebecca has had work published in trade magazines and in the former "Christian Woman" magazine. "Chicken Soup for the Soul" has published stories in two of their books. She has had short stories published in five different books.

  Rebecca has been a freelance newswriter for Morningstar Publications. She has been a freelance writer for web companies and organizations. In addition, she enjoys voice-over work, cake decorating, painting, and oral storytelling.

  Rebecca is Vice-President of Delmarva Christian Writers' Association -- a local writers' group that usually meets the third Saturday of every month at Abundant Life, beginning at 9:00 AM.

  She is currently working on personal writing projects, which include two plays, a book, a memoir, and a children's book or two. Rebecca can be reached at rebecca.jones.storyteller@gmail.com.