Norwegian Church Abroad

The Norwegian Church Abroad or The Norwegian Seamen’s Church (Norwegian: Sjømannskirken) is a religious organisation 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. Today, the churches and their staff together with travelling pastors around the globe represent a "resource center" for all Norwegians travelling internationally.

St. Olav's Church, London, England

Sjømannskirken annually serves around 700 thousand Norwegians through over 30 churches and 16 mobile services in 30 countries around the world. Several churches operate on a Scandinavian basis. The Norwegian Church Abroad, its main office in Bergen, 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.

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 the local ones.

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[10]
  • 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
  1. The Norwegian Seamen's Church in Dubai Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine in Norwegian
  2. The Norwegian Seamen's Churchin Pattaya in Norwegian
  3. The Norwegian Seamen's Church in Singapore in Norwegian
  4. Norwegian Seamen's Church in Miami in Norwegian
  5. New Church in English
  6. http://www.norwaypost.no/news/crown-princess-opens-seamens-church-in-miami-26012.html
  7. Norwegian Seamen's Church in New Orleans in Norwegian
  8. Norwegian Seamen's Church in San Francisco in Norwegian
  9. in Norwegian
  10. http://www.leithseamenschurch.no/pdf-files/leithseamenschurch.pdf

Media related to Norwegian churches abroad at Wikimedia Commons

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