Christ Church, Old Swedes, Swedesburg Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Old Swedes Church in Swedesburg Upper Merion, Pennsylvania was founded in 1733 by Swedish colonists led by John and Gunnar Rambo, grandson and son of Peter Gunnarsson Rambo (credited with introducing the Rambo apple to America in 1637). A combination school and church log cabin was built. Originally the Church was Swedish Lutheran.
In 1760 the present building was built.
On December 13,1777, a snowy wintry night, George Washington and the American Revolutionary Army crossed the Schuylkill River at Swedesford on a bridge built with wagons. Matthias Holstein, a young lad, witnessed the crossing and ran to the church to tell his father and notify the Swedes who were observing their annual Lucia Fest that the American Army was coming. This event is celebrated annually now at the church.
