Editing Gloria Dei Church (section)

== Historic Significance ==

Gloria Dei's significance extends beyond its role as a house of worship to encompass its importance as a historical and architectural monument. The building is the oldest surviving church structure in Pennsylvania and among the oldest in the nation. Its pre-Georgian architecture, brick construction, and Swedish design influences make it a unique example of colonial religious architecture, distinct from the English Georgian churches that would become typical in 18th-century Philadelphia. The church has survived more than three centuries of use, weathering fire scares, urban development, and the transformation of its neighborhood from rural farmland to dense urban residential area.<ref name="nrhp"/>

The church and its cemetery have been the site of important historical events and contain notable burials. Several signers of the Declaration of Independence have connections to the church, reflecting the prominent role that descendants of Swedish colonists played in the American Revolution. The cemetery contains graves dating to the earliest years of the congregation, providing genealogical resources for researchers tracing Swedish colonial ancestry. Archaeological investigations at the site have uncovered artifacts from the colonial period, adding to understanding of Swedish settlement in the Delaware Valley.<ref name="gloriadei"/>