Reorus Torkillus (1608–1643) was priest of the
Church of Sweden and the first
Lutheran clergyman to settle in what would become the
United States.
Biography
Torkillus was born at
Mölndal, near
Gothenburg
Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...
,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
in 1608. He studied for the ministry at
Lidköping and
Skara in Sweden. After completing his education, he served as a chaplain and lecturer at the
high school in
Gothenburg
Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...
.
Torkillus sailed with the second expedition of
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
settlers to
New Sweden, aboard the ''
Kalmar Nyckel''. He arrived at
Fort Christina
Fort Christina (also called Fort Altena) was the first Swedish settlement in North America and the principal settlement of the New Sweden colony. Built in 1638 and named after Queen Christina of Sweden, it was located approximately 1 mi (1.6 ...
near present-day
Wilmington, Delaware on April 17, 1640. Initially, Torkillus officiated at church services held in a
blockhouse
A blockhouse is a small fortification, usually consisting of one or more rooms with loopholes, allowing its defenders to fire in various directions. It is usually an isolated fort in the form of a single building, serving as a defensive stro ...
at Fort Christina. Planning for and construction of the first log churches in the New Sweden settlement was probably begun during his tenure. Torkillus died at Fort Christina in 1643 and was succeeded in his pastorship to the New Sweden colonists by
John Campanius.
Today
Holy Trinity Church Holy Trinity Church may refer to:
Albania
* Holy Trinity Church (Berat), Berat County
* Holy Trinity Church, Lavdar, Opar, Korçë County
Armenia
* Holy Trinity Church, Yerevan
Australia
* Garrison Church, Sydney, South Wales, also known as ''H ...
, also known as Old Swedes', is a
National Historic Landmark. It was built from local blue granite and Swedish bricks that had been used as ship's ballast on the site of the Fort Christina's burial ground. The church is stated to be the nation's oldest church building still standing as originally built. Lutheran services were held in the Swedish language well into the 18th century.
Old Swedes Episcopal Church, Wilmington, DE
/ref>
References
Further reading
* Johnson, Amandus ''The Swedish Settlements on the Delaware Volume I: Their History and Relation to the Indians, Dutch and English, 1638-1664''. (Philadelphia, PA: The Swedish Colonial Society. 1911)
*McCullough, John W. ''Sacred Reminiscences in the Old Swedes' Church'' (Wilmington, Del.: Printed by Porter & Naff, 184
*Benson, Adolph B. and Naboth Hedin, eds. ''Swedes in America, 1638-1938'' (The Swedish American Tercentenary Association. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. 1938)
Other sources
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17th-century American Lutheran clergy
17th-century Swedish Lutheran priests
Lutheranism in Delaware
People from Gothenburg
People of New Sweden
1608 births
1643 deaths
Swedish emigrants to the United States
Religious leaders from Delaware
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