|
Moravian / Swedish Church and Cemetery Site
On banks of Maurice River, just above Spring Garden Ferry site and about 1 mile above Port Elizabeth.
Owner:
Surrounding lands now owned by Rudolph Strauss.
Notes:
Plot is accessible only from the river or by crossing private land. Only remnants of foundation of church left.
General Information:
Site of a Moravian Church built here in 1745, later used by the Swedish Lutherans. Records are known to about 1770, but date it ceased to be used unknown, at present. The meeting place of the earliest settlers of Maurice River Township, on the itinerary of the Swedish Lutheran Churches at Penns Neck and Raccoon (Swedesboro). The well known Swedish minister Nicholas Collin visited here, and many early settlers were buried in the cemetery. Significance:
Significant not only for its great age, and for the fact that some of the most prominent of the early families were affiliated with it, but also for the fact that like the old Baptist and African church and cemetery sites, it is completely surrounded by private property, no longer accessible to the general public, and in real danger of being obliterated and forgotten. It's location should be officially recognized. An earlier marker was removed from the highway some time ago. Description:
Only remnants left are stone slabs which are part of the foundation, if these have not been removed. Access road is now a private drive and site has not been recently inspected. |