Editing Gloria Dei Church (section)

== The Church Today ==

Gloria Dei continues to serve as an active Episcopal parish while also functioning as a historic site open to visitors. Regular worship services follow the Episcopal liturgy, welcoming a congregation that includes longtime Philadelphia residents and newcomers drawn by the church's historic character. The parish maintains the historic building and grounds, balancing the needs of an active worshipping community with the responsibilities of preserving a National Historic Landmark. Visitors are welcome to tour the church and cemetery, and the parish offers educational programs about the Swedish colonial heritage the church represents.<ref name="gloriadei"/>

The church grounds include not only the main sanctuary but also a parish hall, rectory, and the historic cemetery. The cemetery is particularly notable, containing graves spanning more than three centuries and representing the full arc of the congregation's history from Swedish colonial times to the present. Large trees shade the graves, creating an oasis of green space in the otherwise densely built Queen Village neighborhood. The combination of active worship, historic preservation, and community gathering space makes Gloria Dei a unique institution in Philadelphia, bridging the city's Swedish colonial past and its diverse present.<ref name="tinkcom"/>