Contributed by: Amy Grant
Organization: Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation
Dated Posted: May 13, 2026
Website: Visit External Site

New tour is the fifth one in the app … and the first to go inside Pennsylvania’s oldest church

Preserve Old Swedes has released a new virtual audio tour of the inside of Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church, the oldest one in Pennsylvania.

Gloria Dei is located at 916 S. Swanson Street, Phila., PA 19147 (Christian Street and Columbus Blvd.) in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia.

But you can do the tour right from home with the free “Old Swedes” app available at the Apple App Store or on Google Play.

The new 21-stop tour, developed by Amy Grant, president of Preserve Old Swedes, pinpoints people and artifacts important in Gloria Dei’s 349 years of history.

You’ll meet Andreas Rudman, builder of Gloria Dei who was a friend of William Penn; and Nils Collin, who was in the room when Ben Franklin died.

You’ll learn the history of the miniature ship models that hang over the middle aisle, the Hook and Hastings organ, unique stained glass window, the Candelabra commissioned by Carl Milles, the baptismal font that miraculously survived the British occupation of the church; and about the ship the SS Poet that simply disappeared without a trace in 1980 along with 34 mariners.

Download the app today and take a tour of this remarkable church and the museum-type objects it contains. Then come visit in-person.

Earlier free tours include: Colonial Toys and Games; Native Trees of Early Philadelphia; Marvels of Ministers and Adventures at Sea.

All five have been made possible with the generous support of Queen Village Neighbors Association, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and The Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial.

Thanks to them, Preserve Old Swedes can offer these tours for free and without irritating advertisements. Take a look at them today.