Gloria Dei "Old Swedes" Church
Christian St. & Delaware Ave.

The oldest church building in Philadelphia, Gloria Dei was nicknamed Old Swedes because its founding members were Swedish Lutherans who moved from Wilmington, DE in 1643. They built their first church, a low square, timber structure with a short steeple, on the current site in 1667. The current building was dedicated in July of 1700. Since 1938, Old Swedes has been home to a popular Santa Lucia festival, the traditional Swedish festival of lights. Saint Lucia was an early Christian Martyr who died a grisly death. It is believed that the Lucia celebration began as a pagan festival in Italy and was imported to Sweden by traveling Vikings. The Saint Lucia festival held at Gloria Dei Old Swedes is characterized by the lighting of the Advent wreath and window candle representing the Yule star and young children holding lighted candles while singing traditional songs.