Norwegian Church Abroad

St. Olav's Church, Rotherhithe, London

The Norwegian Church Abroad or the Norwegian Seamen’s Church, also referred to by its Norwegian name Sjømannskirken (Norwegian pronunciation: [ʂøːmɑnːsçɪrkən]), is a religious organization serving Norwegians and other Scandinavians travelling abroad. Founded in 1864, the Norwegian Seamen's Mission – Sjømannsmisjonen – was established to secure the moral and religious education of Scandinavian seafarers, but also to give them a "breathing room" where a fellow countryman was available to lend an ear and give some attention. The churches and their staff together with travelling pastors around the globe represent a "resource center" for all Norwegians travelling internationally.

Sjømannskirken annually serves around 700 thousand Norwegians through over 30 churches and 16 mobile services in 30 countries around the world. Several churches operate in Scandinavia. The Norwegian Church Abroad is a charitable organization supported by the Church of Norway and the Norwegian government. Sjømannskirken is also a member of the ICMA and the Council of Nordic Seamen's Missions. With its main office in Bergen, it is under episcopal supervision.[1]

For most Norwegians travelling abroad, Sjømannskirken is a nice place to rest: one can read newspapers from home, buy Norwegian food and speak to other Norwegians. Many Norwegians living permanently abroad use the seamen's churches instead of a local church.

Locations

Africa

Asia

Europe

Norwegian Church in Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Kronprinsesse Märthas kirke, the Norwegian Church in Stockholm, Sweden

North America

Norwegian Seamen's Church, San Pedro, California

Oceania

  • Sydney - the base for a travelling mission serving all of Australia and New Zealand

South America

Other

There is also a special travelling mission for workers in the North Sea and one for students in most parts of the world.

Notable former churches

The Norwegian Church in Cardiff, Wales, now an arts centre
  • Norwegian Seamen's Church, Leith, Scotland[14]
  • Norwegian Church, Cardiff, Wales
  • Norwegian Seamen's Church, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
  • Norwegian Seamen's Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Norwegian Seamen's Church, Montréal, Québec, Canada
  • Norwegian Seamen's Church, Pensacola, Florida, United States
  • Norwegian Church, Swansea, Wales

See also

References

  1. ^ "Om oss". www.sjomannskirken.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 12 June 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  2. ^ Sjømannskirken. "The Norwegian Seamen's Church in Dubai". sjømannskirken.no (in Norwegian). Sjømannskirken. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  3. ^ Sjømannskirken. "The Norwegian Seamen's Church in Pattaya". sjømannskirken.no (in Norwegian). Sjømannskirken.
  4. ^ Sjømannskirken. "The Norwegian Seamen's Church in Singapore". sjømannskirken.no (in Norwegian). Sjømannskirken.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Norwegian Fishermans' Church (1359836)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  6. ^ Sjømannskirken. "Norwegian Seamen's Church of Houston". sjømannskirken.no (in Norwegian). Sjømannskirken.
  7. ^ Sjømannskirken. "Norwegian Seamen's Church in Miami". sjømannskirken.no (in Norwegian). Sjømannskirken.
  8. ^ "New Church". nykirkemiami.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Crown Princess opens Seamens Church in Miami". norwaypost.no.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) [dead link]
  10. ^ Sjømannskirken. "Norwegian Seamen's Church in New Orleans". sjømannskirken.no (in Norwegian). Sjømannskirken.
  11. ^ Bonnette, Sarah (1 March 2022). "Sensitive renovation transforms historic Norwegian Seamen's Church into new holistic health center". prcno.org. Preservation Resource Center.
  12. ^ Sjømannskirken. "Norwegian Seamen's Church in San Francisco". sjømannskirken.no (in Norwegian). Sjømannskirken.
  13. ^ Sjømannskirken. "Gudstjenester i Washington, DC". sjømannskirken.no (in Norwegian). Sjømannskirken.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) [dead link]
  14. ^ "The Scandinavian Lutheran Church" (PDF). leithseamenschurch.no. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Seamen%27s_Church