Learn and ExploreThe Church known as "the nation's oldest church building still used for worship as originally built" began construction in 1698 and was completed by 1699. It is located in what was the New Sweden Colony before Delaware fell to the English in 1664. The Swedish Government supported the building of the church for the love and community of its people, despite the fact that it was no longer a Swedish Colony. The Church is made from local blue granite and precedes the burial ground that surrounds it. The burial grounds dates back to the Swedes first landed along the banks of the Christina River and had buried their dead in the "high ground". Today, the Burial Grounds is the final resting place for over eight thousand individuals. A variety of individuals are significant to the history of Delaware including the humblest Swedish Settler, a Secretary of State of the United States, Military personal, and more. Last updated: November 30, 2018