Old Swedes Church – Haunted Church in Wilmington, Delaware

Nestled in the heart of Wilmington stands one of America’s oldest churches still in active use. Old Swedes Church has witnessed over three centuries of worship, war, and wonder since its construction in 1698.

The stone walls of this sacred place have absorbed countless prayers and tears over the generations. They’ve also absorbed something else entirely, according to those who’ve encountered the unexplained within its ancient confines.

This National Historic Landmark draws visitors from across the country seeking glimpses of colonial history. Many leave having experienced far more than they bargained for during their quiet tours.

The church’s graveyard contains hundreds of souls from Wilmington’s earliest days. Some parishioners and clergy members from centuries past seem reluctant to leave their beloved church behind.

Stories of phantom footsteps, mysterious lights, and unexplained voices have circulated since the 1800s. Modern paranormal investigators continue documenting strange occurrences that defy rational explanation within these hallowed halls.

Historical Background

Swedish settlers constructed Holy Trinity Church in 1698 on land purchased from the Lenape people. The congregation used black granite stones gathered from the nearby Brandywine River for construction.

These Swedish Lutherans arrived in the Delaware Valley beginning in 1638 as part of New Sweden. Their descendants built this church to replace an earlier wooden structure from the 1660s.

The church served as a hospital during the Revolutionary War in 1777 and 1778. British and American soldiers alike received treatment within its walls, and several died there from battlefield wounds.

The original Swedish congregation gradually integrated with English-speaking communities throughout the 18th century. By 1791, the church officially became part of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

The adjacent cemetery began receiving burials even before the church’s completion in 1698. Over 800 identified graves dot the grounds, with countless unmarked colonial-era burials beneath.

A significant renovation occurred in 1773 when the building received its distinctive white steeple. The weathervane atop that steeple still catches the wind after more than 240 years.

The church survived numerous yellow fever epidemics that devastated Wilmington in the late 1700s. Victims of these plagues found their final rest in the crowded churchyard outside.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors consistently report sudden temperature drops of 15 to 20 degrees in specific church areas. These cold spots appear without warning and disappear just as quickly, even during summer months.

Disembodied footsteps echo through the sanctuary when no living person walks the floors. The heavy boot-like sounds suggest someone pacing the worn wooden planks overhead in the balcony.

Church staff members have documented doors opening and closing by themselves throughout the building. The sacristy door proves particularly active, swinging open despite being firmly latched moments before.

Mysterious organ music drifts through the church late at night when the building stands empty. Security personnel have investigated these sounds only to find the organ completely untouched.

Shadow figures frequently appear in peripheral vision, darting between the historic box pews. These dark forms vanish when witnesses turn to look at them directly.

Electronic devices malfunction with unusual frequency inside the church walls. Cameras drain batteries instantly, and recording equipment produces strange interference despite working perfectly outside.

The scent of flowers appears suddenly in winter when no blooms decorate the sanctuary. This phantom fragrance, described as lilacs or roses, lingers for several minutes before fading.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most famous spirit haunting Old Swedes Church is reportedly that of Reverend Erik Björk. He served as pastor from 1697 until 1714 and oversaw the church’s construction and dedication.

Björk witnessed the church transform from dreams on paper to stone reality during his ministry. Many believe his deep connection to the building kept his spirit bound to it.

Visitors describe encountering a tall man in black clerical robes near the pulpit area. The figure appears solid and lifelike until witnesses approach, when it simply vanishes into thin air.

This apparition matches historical descriptions of Reverend Björk’s appearance from contemporary accounts. He was notably tall for his era and always wore traditional Swedish Lutheran ministerial garments.

Staff members report finding the church Bible opened to specific passages each morning. The heavy book is always secure when they lock up each evening before departing.

One recurring passage is Psalm 23, found opened on the pulpit multiple times. Another frequent selection is Matthew 28, which discusses resurrection and eternal life.

A phantom child appears in the graveyard, particularly near the oldest unmarked stones. Witnesses describe a young girl in colonial-era clothing running between the weathered markers.

The child seems to be playing rather than frightened or distressed in any way. She laughs silently before disappearing behind a large family monument near the church’s eastern wall.

Research suggests this may be the spirit of Catherine Van Dyke. The seven-year-old died from scarlet fever in 1741 and was buried in the churchyard.

Her gravestone features a carved cherub’s face, still visible despite centuries of weathering. The girl’s apparition has been photographed multiple times, appearing as a translucent figure in period dress.

Revolutionary War soldiers manifest throughout the church, particularly in the basement area. These spirits wear tattered Continental Army uniforms and appear confused or disoriented.

When the church served as a military hospital, the basement housed overflow patients. At least twelve soldiers died there from infected wounds and disease during the occupation.

Witnesses hear groaning and whispered conversations in the basement late at night. One security guard recorded audio that clearly captured someone saying “water” and “home” in distress.

A spectral woman in Quaker dress appears in the balcony every few months. She sits in the same northeast corner pew, hands folded as if in prayer.

Historical records identify her as likely being Hannah Pennock, a devout worshiper from 1764. She attended services here for forty-two years until her death in 1806.

Most Haunted Spot

The basement area beneath the sanctuary generates the most intense paranormal reports from investigators and visitors. This space served as the makeshift hospital ward where Revolutionary War soldiers suffered and died.

People report overwhelming feelings of sadness and pain when descending the narrow stairs. Several visitors have become physically ill from the oppressive atmosphere that pervades these underground chambers.

Investigators consistently capture electronic voice phenomena recordings in this location. The disembodied voices plead for help or call out names of fellow soldiers long deceased.

Full-bodied shadow figures move across the basement walls despite no light source casting them. These shadows appear to interact with each other, suggesting intelligent rather than residual haunting activity.

The original foundation stones in the basement date to 1698 construction. Some paranormal researchers believe these stones absorbed traumatic energy from centuries of suffering and death.

Can You Visit?

Old Swedes Church welcomes visitors throughout the week for tours and historical exploration. The church remains an active Episcopal congregation, so respectful behavior is essential during visits.

Tours are available Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM seasonally. Guided tours cost $5 per person, with children under twelve admitted free of charge.

The church grounds and cemetery remain open daily from dawn until dusk free of charge. Visitors can explore the historic graveyard and read the weathered inscriptions on centuries-old stones.

Photography is permitted throughout the church and grounds for personal use. Flash photography is discouraged inside the sanctuary to preserve historic artifacts and fabrics.

Special candlelight tours occur monthly during October featuring the church’s haunted history. These popular events require advance reservations and cost $15 per person with limited availability.

The church occasionally hosts paranormal investigation teams by prior arrangement. These overnight investigations require special permission from church leadership and proof of insurance.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies dramatically during the autumn months of October and November. Multiple witnesses report the highest frequency of unexplained phenomena during this period annually.

Evening hours between 7 PM and 10 PM produce the most consistent supernatural encounters. The church hosts fewer daytime events then, creating quieter conditions for manifestations to occur.

Anniversary dates connected to the church’s history show increased ghostly activity patterns. January 2nd marks the church’s 1699 dedication and consistently produces unexplained occurrences each year.

Winter solstice evenings generate particularly strong paranormal responses according to investigation logs. Researchers theorize the long darkness amplifies spiritual energy present in the ancient building.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Margaret Richardson visited the church in October 2019 as part of a historical tour. She photographed the sanctuary and captured what appears to be a transparent figure in the balcony.

The figure clearly shows a woman’s profile looking downward toward the altar area. Margaret saw nothing unusual when taking the photo, discovering the anomaly only later at home.

Church sexton David Palmer worked at Old Swedes from 2005 to 2018. He documented numerous encounters with unexplained sounds and movements during his thirteen years of service.

Palmer specifically recalls finding hymnals removed from pews and stacked on the floor in precise rows. This occurred repeatedly despite the church being locked and alarmed overnight with no entry recorded.

Reverend Patricia Downing served as rector from 2010 to 2015 and openly acknowledged the church’s haunted reputation. She experienced several unexplainable events during her tenure, including phantom organ music at midnight.

Downing stated in a 2014 Delaware Today interview that she felt watched constantly while alone. She described the presence as benevolent rather than threatening, like protective ancestors watching over their church.

Paranormal investigator Thomas Chen conducted extensive research at Old Swedes in March 2017. His team recorded over forty separate electronic voice phenomena clips during one overnight investigation.

Chen’s most compelling evidence includes a voice clearly stating “Erik” followed by Swedish language words. Translation revealed the phrase meant “still here” in Swedish, possibly referencing Reverend Björk.

Tourist Jennifer Kozlowski fainted in the basement during a 2016 historical tour. She reported feeling someone grab her arm forcefully before losing consciousness and seeing a soldier’s face.

Medical personnel found no physical cause for her collapse. Kozlowski remained convinced she’d encountered something supernatural in that underground space despite skeptical explanations.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated Old Swedes Church in 2008 for a potential television episode. Their team documented significant temperature anomalies and unexplained electromagnetic field fluctuations throughout the building.

Lead investigator Jason Hawes described the church as genuinely active with paranormal energy. The team captured audio of footsteps and voices that couldn’t be rationally explained away.

Delaware Paranormal Research Group has investigated the location multiple times since 2012. They’ve accumulated hundreds of hours of footage and audio recordings from overnight sessions.

Their most significant finding occurred in April 2015 when cameras captured a shadow figure crossing the sanctuary. The figure appeared solid and blocked light sources as it moved between pews deliberately.

Infrared cameras frequently malfunction in specific church areas despite working perfectly elsewhere. The balcony and basement show the highest concentration of equipment failures during investigations.

EMF detectors spike suddenly near the altar and in the sacristy without any electrical sources present. These readings often correlate with witnesses reporting sudden cold spots or feeling watched intensely.

Multiple investigation teams independently captured the same female voice saying “welcome” near the entrance. The voice appears on recordings from 2013, 2016, and 2019 investigations by different groups.

Local Legends & Myths

Local legend claims a Swedish soldier from the colonial era was executed for desertion nearby. His body was supposedly buried in unconsecrated ground just outside the churchyard’s original boundaries.

The soldier’s ghost allegedly walks the perimeter of the cemetery searching for proper burial. Witnesses describe a man in 17th-century military dress pacing the fence line after midnight.

Another persistent legend involves a curse placed on the church by angry Lenape medicine men. According to this tale, Native Americans objected to the church’s construction on sacred tribal land.

The supposed curse promised that the dead would never rest peacefully in this ground. While no historical evidence supports this story, it remains popular in local ghost tour narratives.

Some claim a secret tunnel once connected the church basement to the nearby Christina River. This tunnel allegedly served as an Underground Railroad station during the 1850s helping escaped slaves.

No architectural evidence confirms such a tunnel’s existence despite numerous searches. However, unexplained cold drafts in the basement fuel continued speculation about hidden passages below.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The church grounds remain private property requiring permission for after-hours access. Trespassing after closing time can result in prosecution by local law enforcement authorities.

The cemetery features uneven ground with sunken graves and protruding tree roots. Visitors should exercise extreme caution when walking among the historic stones, especially after dark.

Some gravestones date to the early 1700s and are extremely fragile and irreplaceable. Touching or making rubbings of these markers is strictly prohibited to preserve them.

The basement stairs are steep and narrow with low clearance at the bottom. Tall individuals must duck carefully to avoid striking their heads on the original ceiling beams.

No investigations or overnight visits are permitted without explicit written permission from church leadership. Unauthorized paranormal investigations constitute criminal trespass and will be prosecuted accordingly.