Andreas Rudman (1697-1730) Andreas Rudman supervised the construction of the new church at Wicaco, beginning in 1698. The church was dedicated on July 2, 1700. Rudman's deteriorating health led to his replacement as pastor by Anders Sandel in 1702. That same year, Rudman accepted a call to pastor at a Dutch Lutheran congregation in New York City, and later served two Church of England congregations near Philadelphia.
Sandel
began the practice of visiting Swedish families living in Kinsessing
and Upper Merion, which resulted in annex churches which were parts of
Gloria Dei congregation until the 1840s.
Rudman died in 1708 and was
buried in Gloria Dei.
Jonas Lidman replaced Sandel in 1719, and served
as pastor until 1730.
The
period from 1700 to 1730 was generally a period of growth for the
Gloria Dei congregation. The church was maintained in a good state of
repair and there were no vacancies in the pastorship. In 1703, Bjork,
Rudman and Sandel officiated at the ordination of Justus Falckner, the
first ordination we know of in the Middle Atlantic. Falckner succeeded
Rudman as the pastor of the Dutch Lutheran congregation of New York.
D. Joy Segal, Rector | Columbus Blvd. & Christian Street | Philadelphia, PA 19147 | (215) 389-1513
