First Church of the New Jerusalem Burial Ground
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First Church of the New Jerusalem Burial Ground

Also known as First New Jerusalem Society of Philadelphia Burial Ground, First New Jerusalem Temple Burial Ground, First Swedenborgian Burial Ground

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

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  • Get directions 12th and Sansom Streets
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 United States
    Coordinates: 39.94949, -75.16061
  • This cemetery is marked as being historical or removed.
  • No longer accepting burials
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The First Church of the New Jerusalem was founded on December 25, 1815 as the The American Society for Disseminating the Doctrines of the New Jerusalem Church — that is, the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. Later, in October 1816, the Society resolved to erect a house of worship.

On January 1, 1817, the New Jerusalem Temple, the first place worship for Swedenborgians in the city of Philadelphia, was dedicated at the southeast corner of Twelfth and George (now Sansom) Streets, the temple having been designed by architect William Strickland, himself a member of the Society who had converted to the religion in 1813. Alongside the Temple a small burial ground was also laid out.

Financial difficulties besieged the small congregation, and in 1826 they sold their Temple and grounds to the Academy of Natural Sciences for $4,300 for their use as a meeting hall and museum. The burials, it is thought, were removed to the ground of the Second Church of the New Jerusalem in Southwark.

The Academy moved to new quarters in 1840, and by the end of that year the temple was demolished for the construction of a private residence. Some time later, workmen excavating on the site found a number of coffins.

The First Church of the New Jerusalem was founded on December 25, 1815 as the The American Society for Disseminating the Doctrines of the New Jerusalem Church — that is, the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. Later, in October 1816, the Society resolved to erect a house of worship.

On January 1, 1817, the New Jerusalem Temple, the first place worship for Swedenborgians in the city of Philadelphia, was dedicated at the southeast corner of Twelfth and George (now Sansom) Streets, the temple having been designed by architect William Strickland, himself a member of the Society who had converted to the religion in 1813. Alongside the Temple a small burial ground was also laid out.

Financial difficulties besieged the small congregation, and in 1826 they sold their Temple and grounds to the Academy of Natural Sciences for $4,300 for their use as a meeting hall and museum. The burials, it is thought, were removed to the ground of the Second Church of the New Jerusalem in Southwark.

The Academy moved to new quarters in 1840, and by the end of that year the temple was demolished for the construction of a private residence. Some time later, workmen excavating on the site found a number of coffins.

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  • Added: 19 Jul 2022
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2757769