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Sweden wanted a friendly co-operation with the German
Lutherans, and at no other time were the relations so
close as when the great Muhlenberg was directing the
German work while his friend Wrangel had charge of
the Swedish field. Indeed, it would require a
Muhlenberg and a Wrangel to bridge the differences between
the Swedish and the German churches. Had Wrangel’s
work been continued the Lutheran churches in
Pennsylvania and Delaware and vicinity would probably have
been united, a theological seminary for the training of
ministers would have come into existence, and the
Delaware churches would not have lost their connection
with the Lutheran mother-church. Swedish Lutheranism
reached its greatest development under Acrelius and
Wrangel, but after the latter’s departure there set in a
gradual and permanent decline. The Swedes were
becoming Anglicized in language while the descendants of
the Germans in Pennsylvania are retaining their
mother-tongue even today. The revolution hastened matters.
The colonists had become English subjects, but many
had never liked England. They had preferred to lean
on Sweden, and this had reacted in favor of the Swedish
language which the pastors were instructed to favor, and
which they could speak most fluently. To be independent
Americans was a different matter, and it was felt in
both Sweden and America that they must no longer lean
on foreign support. As there were no other English
Lutherans to whom they could turn for aid, and as they
were unable to stand alone, they naturally turned to the
Episcopal church whose ritual they had been using at
all English services.
Lutheran education flourished under Wrangel,
though only to sink into oblivion after his departure.
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