pulpit

chandelier

Acrelius

The pulpit is the oldest known pulpit in the United States. Made of black walnut, it has a canopy and support board. The pulpit was carved by Joseph Harrison, a cabinetmaker from Philadelphia, who used wood given by members of the congregation. The canopy was designed to help project the speaker's voice. The hand-carved dove above the pulpit is a modern gift from Sweden. The altar is also modern and fashioned from black walnut with panelling that echoes the design of the pulpit. It is at least the third altar at Old Swedes.

The pews are reproductions of the originals and were built in 1899 using patterns and descriptions from early church records. The pews could be closed to keep out drafts in winter; worshippers often brought heated rocks or pans of hot coals into their pews to keep themselves warm. The pews were raised off the floor so their doors would not catch on the uneven bricks. Through the 1700s, in keeping with the Swedish custom, men sat on the right and women sat on the left. Both sides sat facing the altar.

The central chandelier is an eighteenth-century brass candelabrum from an abbey church in Ireland. It was given to and installed in this church in the mid-1960's.

The bricks set in a herringbone pattern in the main aisle may have served as the traditional location for a winter, or Christmas, tree. Later, it was the location of a stove used to warm the church during services.

The church chest dates from 1713. It was used to store important documents, church valuables, and cash. The chest has two keyholes, each requiring a different key, making it similar to modern safe deposit boxes.

Portraits of early pastors are hung from the balcony railing and are visible from the front of the church:

• the Rev. Ericus Bjork, the first pastor, who led the congregation during the building of the church.
• the Rev. Peter Tranberg, pastor from 1742 to 1748.
• the Rev. Israel Acrelius, pastor from 1749 to 1756 (shown here)

The original church key is displayed in a small framed box. It opens the south door, which used to be the only entry that had a lock; the other doors were secured with bars. The doors and their hardware are rather heavy, and the pulley weights on the main door can be seen from the vestibule.

pipes

console

Graves inside the church: Church records indicate that there are graves under the church walls and that five children are buried in unmarked locations inside the altar rail. The grave of Rev Peter Tranberg (pastor from 1742 to 1748) is just outside the altar rail's center opening. The grave of the Rev. Andreas Borell (another early pastor) is also believed to be somewhere inside the church. The grave stone located in the cross-aisle marks the burial site of Peter Abraham Girelius, infant son of the last Swedish pastor of Old Swedes. The child died of whooping cough in 1786.

crown

altar

Stained Glass Windows

The windows in the original church featured small panes of clear glass. The stained glass windows were added between 1885 and 1897.

flower

They were given as memorials to prominent parishoners. The coloration of the altar window differs slightly from the others, suggesting that it is probably German, while the others were produced in this country.

bayard