Erik Björck (born January 13, 1668, in Köping, died August 21, 1740, in Falun), was a Swedish clergyman. He was active in the former Swedish colony on the Delaware from 1697 to 1714, and then until his death in 1740 as parish priest in Falun. Early life Erik Björck's father was the Rector Scholæ in Köping, later the parish priest of Björskog, Tobias Andreæ Björck who died in 1683 at the age of 55, leaving his wife and children in poverty; his mother was Magdalena Rudelia, daughter of the parish priest of Munktorp Ericus Andreæ Sala-Montanus. With meager resources, Björck went through Trivial school and Gymnasium in Västerås, but got a good place as a tutor for the son and nephews of Jesper Swedberg when he began his studies at Uppsala University in 1687. The position was crucial for his future. Surrounded by Quakers and Calvinists the Swedish Lutherans in America wrote to the old country asking for herders to keep their flock together. Swedberg persuaded King Charles XI of Sweden to heed their plea, and the King in 1696 ordered the Archbishop of Uppsala to appoint two or three suitable clergymen for America. The choice fell primarily on Andreas Rudman, and next to him was Swedberg's proposal Björck. They were joined by a third theologian, Jonas Aurén, whose actual task was to bring home more detailed information about the distant land. Equipped with funds and a large shipment of religious literature intended for distribution, the young clergymen set sail in August 1696 from Sweden. The years in America After a lengthy stay in London, in order to receive King William III of England's permission for the undertaking, Björck and his associates landed in the New World on June 4, 1697. Courtesly received by the governor of Maryland, they proceeded to Philadelphia where they paid their respects to the deputy governor. Between them, the tasks were distributed in such a way that Björck was responsible for the area around present-day Wilmington, Rudman was responsible for the area around present-day Philadelphia and Aurén was to devote himself to missions among the American Indians. Björck quickly took up his duties in the congregation in Crane Hook. May 28, 1698, the foundation of a new stone church was laid which was consecrated on 4 July 1699, as a replacement for a dilapidated wooden church. The church was consecrated on Trinity Sunday and was