Nordic churches in London
Encyclopedia
There are several long-established Nordic churches in London. All seek to provide Lutheran Christian worship and pastoral care to their respective national communities in their own languages. Many of the churches also organise language classes and organise a wide range of social activities.
The church is located at 4 Saint Katharine's Precinct, Regent's Park, London NW1 4HH (off Albany Street) (51°32′2"N 0°8′48"W). The nearest London Underground
stations are Camden Town
or Great Portland Street
.
The Danish Seamen's Mission in London is based at 322 Rope Street, Rotherhithe
(51°29′40"N 0°2′1"W). There is also a Danish Church in Hull
(the St Nikolaj Danish Seamen's Church at 104 Osborne Street) (53°44′33"N 0°20′44"W).
The London and Hull congregations are both part of the Danske Sømands og Udlands Kirker (DSUK) - The Danish Church Abroad / Danish Seamen's Church. The DSUK was founded in 2004 through the merger of The Danish Church Abroad and The Danish Seamen's Church in Foreign Ports. The DSUK is affiliated to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark
.
From 1696 to 1870 there was a Danish church in Wellclose Square
. It was built by Caius Gabriel Cibber
who was born in Denmark.
The Finnish Seamen's Mission
and church (Suomen Merimieskirkko, Finlands Sjömanskyrka) is located at 33 Albion Street, Rotherhithe
, London, SE16 (51°29′58"N 0°3′11"W). The current rector is the Revd Teemu Hälli. The church also has a shop selling Finnish products and has hostel accommodation for visitors to London.
The London church and mission was first established in 1882, when the Finnish port chaplain who had been sent to Hull in 1880 was relocated south because of the level of work demanded in London. The present church building was opened in 1958 and refurbished in 2006; its distinctive architecture is recognised as a Grade II listed building. The architect was Cyrill Mardall-Sjöström.
Rotherhithe Underground station
is very near (on Brunel Road). The nearest alternative is Canada Water
station on the Jubilee Line
. It is also possible to take bus routes 381 or C10 to Rotherhithe Underground station.
The approach ramp to the Rotherhithe Tunnel
is immediately behind the church (between Albion Street and Brunel Road). The Brunel Engine House
is nearby; Rotherhithe Library is located between the Finnish Church and St Olav's Norwegian Church.
are held (usually on the third Sunday of every month) at the German Church (Christuskirche), 19 Montpelier Place, Knightsbridge
(51°29′58"N 0°9′58"W). There are also regular Icelandic services being held at the Ulrika Eleonora Swedish Church of London, Harcourt Street.
There has been a Norwegian church in London since the late 17th century. The current church building (St Olav's, designed by John Love Seaton Dahl), was consecrated in 1927, the foundation stone was laid the previous year by Prince Olav (later King Olav V of Norway
). King Haakon VII and the Norwegian government in exile
regularly worshipped at the church during World War II
, when the church was given the status of a pro-cathedral.
St Olav's Church is located close to the River Thames
in Rotherhithe
at 1 St Olav's Square, Albion Street (next to the entrance to the Rotherhithe Tunnel
) (51°29′57"N 0°3′15"W). The nearest Underground stations are Rotherhithe
or Canada Water
. The congregation is part of Sjømannskirken
(The Norwegian Church Abroad or The Norwegian Seamen's Churches.) The Finnish Church (see above) is located nearby in Albion Street.
Sjømannskirken
also runs the Norwegian Fishermans' Church, Liverpool
, and formerly ran the Norwegian Church, Cardiff
.
In addition to regular church events, the church organises activities such as Saturday school and football practice.
The Ulrika Eleonora Swedish Parish in London is part of "Church of Sweden Abroad
" (SKUT). The first church for the Swedish community in London opened in Wapping
in 1728, but it was replaced and relocated in the early 20th century. There are now two Swedish churches in London - Ulrika Eleonora Church and the Seamen's Church.
Ulrika Eleonora Church is located at 6 Harcourt Street, Marylebone
(51°31′12"N 0°9′53"W). It was built in 1911 and is a Grade II listed building. The altar, pulpit, fonts and chandeliers are from the former church in Wapping. As well as the church and staff accommodation, there is also a reading room, church hall, library and parish office. The nearest Underground station is Edgware Road
on the Circle Line, District Line
and Hammersmith and City Line.
The Swedish Seamen's Church was opened at 120 Lower Road, Rotherhithe
(51°29′42"N 0°3′3"W) in 1905. The current premises were built in 1930 and partially rebuilt in 1966. As well as a church and clergy accommodation, there is also a reading room, television room, billiard room and a hostel providing overnight accommodation. The Church of Sweden is planning to close the Swedish Seaman's Church during 2011. London is the only overseas parish that currently has two churches. The nearest London Underground
station is Surrey Quays
on the East London Line, followed by Canada Water on the Jubilee Line.
SKUT
is accountable to the General Synod of the Church of Sweden
. SKUT provides staff and funding for churches abroad. Since 2002 SKUT has been linked to the Diocese of Visby; the Bishop of Visby
is responsible for episcopal oversight.
Danish Church
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
stations are Camden Town
Camden Town tube station
Camden Town tube station is a major junction on the Northern Line and one of the busiest stations on the London Underground network...
or Great Portland Street
Great Portland Street tube station
Great Portland Street is a London Underground station near Regent's Park. It is between and on the Hammersmith & City, Circle and Metropolitan lines...
.
The Danish Seamen's Mission in London is based at 322 Rope Street, Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
(51°29′40"N 0°2′1"W). There is also a Danish Church in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
(the St Nikolaj Danish Seamen's Church at 104 Osborne Street) (53°44′33"N 0°20′44"W).
The London and Hull congregations are both part of the Danske Sømands og Udlands Kirker (DSUK) - The Danish Church Abroad / Danish Seamen's Church. The DSUK was founded in 2004 through the merger of The Danish Church Abroad and The Danish Seamen's Church in Foreign Ports. The DSUK is affiliated to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark
Church of Denmark
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, Church of Denmark or Danish National Church, is the state church and largest denomination in Denmark and Greenland...
.
From 1696 to 1870 there was a Danish church in Wellclose Square
Wellclose Square
Wellclose Square lies in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, between Cable Street to the north and The Highway to the south.The western edge, now called Ensign Street, was previously called Well Street. The southern edge was called Neptune street. On the north side is Graces Alley, home to...
. It was built by Caius Gabriel Cibber
Caius Gabriel Cibber
Caius Gabriel Cibber was a Danish sculptor, who enjoyed great success in England, and was the father of the actor, author and poet laureate Colley Cibber. He was appointed "carver to the king's closet" by William III....
who was born in Denmark.
Finnish Church
Finnish Seamen's Mission
The Finnish Seamen's Mission was established in 1875. In Finland's two official languages it is known as Suomen Merimieskirkko ry in Finnish and Finlands Sjömanskyrka rf in Swedish. It was established to help Finns travelling abroad, particularly seafarers and migrant workers...
and church (Suomen Merimieskirkko, Finlands Sjömanskyrka) is located at 33 Albion Street, Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
, London, SE16 (51°29′58"N 0°3′11"W). The current rector is the Revd Teemu Hälli. The church also has a shop selling Finnish products and has hostel accommodation for visitors to London.
The London church and mission was first established in 1882, when the Finnish port chaplain who had been sent to Hull in 1880 was relocated south because of the level of work demanded in London. The present church building was opened in 1958 and refurbished in 2006; its distinctive architecture is recognised as a Grade II listed building. The architect was Cyrill Mardall-Sjöström.
Rotherhithe Underground station
Rotherhithe tube station
Rotherhithe railway station is a railway station on the southern bank of the river Thames at Rotherhithe, London, England. It is on London Overground's East London Line, between and , and is in Zone 2...
is very near (on Brunel Road). The nearest alternative is Canada Water
Canada Water tube station
Canada Water station is a London Underground and London Overground station in Rotherhithe, in south London, UK. It takes its name from Canada Water, a lake which was created from a former dock in the London Docklands....
station on the Jubilee Line
Jubilee Line
The Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
. It is also possible to take bus routes 381 or C10 to Rotherhithe Underground station.
The approach ramp to the Rotherhithe Tunnel
Rotherhithe Tunnel
The Rotherhithe Tunnel is a road tunnel crossing beneath the River Thames in East London. It connects the Ratcliff district of Limehouse in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets north of the river to Rotherhithe in the London Borough of Southwark south of the river. It is designated as the A101...
is immediately behind the church (between Albion Street and Brunel Road). The Brunel Engine House
Brunel Engine House
The Brunel Museum is a museum in the Brunel Engine House, Rotherhithe, London Borough of Southwark. The Engine House was designed by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel to be part of the infrastructure of the Thames Tunnel.-Brunel Engine House:...
is nearby; Rotherhithe Library is located between the Finnish Church and St Olav's Norwegian Church.
Icelandic congregation
Lutheran services in IcelandicIcelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
are held (usually on the third Sunday of every month) at the German Church (Christuskirche), 19 Montpelier Place, Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
(51°29′58"N 0°9′58"W). There are also regular Icelandic services being held at the Ulrika Eleonora Swedish Church of London, Harcourt Street.
Norwegian Church
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
). King Haakon VII and the Norwegian government in exile
Government in exile
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their...
regularly worshipped at the church during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the church was given the status of a pro-cathedral.
St Olav's Church is located close to the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
at 1 St Olav's Square, Albion Street (next to the entrance to the Rotherhithe Tunnel
Rotherhithe Tunnel
The Rotherhithe Tunnel is a road tunnel crossing beneath the River Thames in East London. It connects the Ratcliff district of Limehouse in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets north of the river to Rotherhithe in the London Borough of Southwark south of the river. It is designated as the A101...
) (51°29′57"N 0°3′15"W). The nearest Underground stations are Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe tube station
Rotherhithe railway station is a railway station on the southern bank of the river Thames at Rotherhithe, London, England. It is on London Overground's East London Line, between and , and is in Zone 2...
or Canada Water
Canada Water tube station
Canada Water station is a London Underground and London Overground station in Rotherhithe, in south London, UK. It takes its name from Canada Water, a lake which was created from a former dock in the London Docklands....
. The congregation is part of Sjømannskirken
Sjømannskirken
The Norwegian Church Abroad or The Norwegian Seamen’s Church is a religious organisation serving Norwegians and other Scandinavians travelling abroad...
(The Norwegian Church Abroad or The Norwegian Seamen's Churches.) The Finnish Church (see above) is located nearby in Albion Street.
Sjømannskirken
Sjømannskirken
The Norwegian Church Abroad or The Norwegian Seamen’s Church is a religious organisation serving Norwegians and other Scandinavians travelling abroad...
also runs the Norwegian Fishermans' Church, Liverpool
Norwegian Fishermans' Church, Liverpool
Norwegian Fishermans’ Church in Liverpool, England, is one of 29 churches organised by Sjømannskirken , a voluntary organisation serving the religious needs of Norwegians abroad on behalf of the Church of Norway....
, and formerly ran the Norwegian Church, Cardiff
Norwegian Church, Cardiff
The Norwegian Church in the Cardiff Bay area of the city of Cardiff, Wales, is a historic church building and formerly a place of worship for the Norwegian community in Cardiff....
.
In addition to regular church events, the church organises activities such as Saturday school and football practice.
Swedish Church
Church of Sweden Abroad
The Church of Sweden Abroad - in Swedish: Svenska kyrkan i utlandet - is accountable to a special committee under the General Synod of the Church of Sweden and is under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Visby. SKUT has approximately 45 congregations throughout the world, concentrated in...
" (SKUT). The first church for the Swedish community in London opened in Wapping
Wapping
Wapping is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets which forms part of the Docklands to the east of the City of London. It is situated between the north bank of the River Thames and the ancient thoroughfare simply called The Highway...
in 1728, but it was replaced and relocated in the early 20th century. There are now two Swedish churches in London - Ulrika Eleonora Church and the Seamen's Church.
Ulrika Eleonora Church is located at 6 Harcourt Street, Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
(51°31′12"N 0°9′53"W). It was built in 1911 and is a Grade II listed building. The altar, pulpit, fonts and chandeliers are from the former church in Wapping. As well as the church and staff accommodation, there is also a reading room, church hall, library and parish office. The nearest Underground station is Edgware Road
Edgware Road tube station
Edgware Road station is a London Underground station on the corner of Chapel Street and Cabbell Street Road in Travelcard Zone 1 serving the Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines. The separate Edgware Road tube station is about 150 metres away on the opposite side of the Marylebone Road...
on the Circle Line, District Line
District Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
and Hammersmith and City Line.
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
(51°29′42"N 0°3′3"W) in 1905. The current premises were built in 1930 and partially rebuilt in 1966. As well as a church and clergy accommodation, there is also a reading room, television room, billiard room and a hostel providing overnight accommodation. The Church of Sweden is planning to close the Swedish Seaman's Church during 2011. London is the only overseas parish that currently has two churches. The nearest London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
station is Surrey Quays
Surrey Quays tube station
Surrey Quays railway station is a railway station in Rotherhithe near Southwark Park. It is in Zone 2, on the East London Line. The next station to the north is , and to the south it splits into branches to and...
on the East London Line, followed by Canada Water on the Jubilee Line.
SKUT
Church of Sweden Abroad
The Church of Sweden Abroad - in Swedish: Svenska kyrkan i utlandet - is accountable to a special committee under the General Synod of the Church of Sweden and is under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Visby. SKUT has approximately 45 congregations throughout the world, concentrated in...
is accountable to the General Synod of the Church of Sweden
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
. SKUT provides staff and funding for churches abroad. Since 2002 SKUT has been linked to the Diocese of Visby; the Bishop of Visby
Visby
-See also:* Battle of Visby* Gotland University College* List of governors of Gotland County-External links:* - Visby*...
is responsible for episcopal oversight.
See also
- Church of DenmarkChurch of DenmarkThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, Church of Denmark or Danish National Church, is the state church and largest denomination in Denmark and Greenland...
- Church of the Faroe IslandsChurch of the Faroe IslandsThe Church of the Faroe Islands was a diocese of the Lutheran Church of Denmark until it became independent on 29 July 2007, as the smallest of the world's few remaining state churches....
- Church of IcelandChurch of IcelandThe National Church of Iceland, or Þjóðkirkjan, formally called the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland, is the state church in Iceland. Like the established churches in the other Nordic countries, the National Church of Iceland professes the Lutheran branch of Christianity. Its head is the...
- Church of NorwayChurch of NorwayThe Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
- Church of SwedenChurch of SwedenThe Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of FinlandEvangelical Lutheran Church of FinlandThe Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the national church of Finland. The church professes the Lutheran branch of Christianity, and is a member of the Porvoo Communion....
External links
- Danish Church in London - official website (in Danish and English)
- Danish Church Abroad / Danish Seamen´s Church (DSUK) (in Danish and English)
- Finnish Church in London - official website (in English and Finnish)
- Icelandic Church services in London (in Icelandic only)
- Lutheran Council of Great Britain
- Norwegian Church in London - official website (in Norwegian only)
- Norwegian Church in London - website of the Embassy of Norway in London (in English)
- Swedish Church in London - official website (in English and Swedish)