King of Prussia Historical Society members and friends are invited to Christ Church Old Swede’s annual St. Lucia Feast on Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 pm. The Annual Christmas Celebration will be followed by a lite fare refreshment gathering in the Church Hall.
The evening event is a celebration of the traditional feast of St. Lucia with her crown of candles, along with the annual Swedish Christmas pageant, plus the re-enactment of George Washington’s troops as they stopped at Christ Church, Old Swedes (during the annual feast) on their way to Valley Forge.
On December 11, 1777, Washington broke camp and intended to cross the Schuylkill at Matson’s Ford. On December 13, 1777, as General George Washington and his troops were making their way to a site for their winter encampment, they saw lights burning on the west side of the Schuylkill River.
Making their way across the river, they came to Christ Church in Swedesburg. At the time, the church was holding a festival for the feast of St. Lucia, and Washington and his officers were welcomed into the church for the evening. After the service, Washington asked the men of the church to join his effort and eight volunteers joined Washington’s army. (Page 36, Upper Merion Township: The First 300 Years)