Norwegian Church Abroad

St. Olav's Church, London, England

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.

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.

Places where the church is present

Europe

Norwegian Church in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

• Alicante, Spain
• Antwerp, Belgium
• Aya Napa, Cyprus
• Barcelona, Spain Travelling mission from the permanent church in Majorca
• Berlin, Germany
• Brussels, Belgium
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Costa del Sol, Spain Five different locations
• Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden
• Hamburg, Germany
• Norwegian Fishermans’ Church, Liverpool, United Kingdom
• London (St Olav's Church), United Kingdom
• Mallorca, Spain
• Moscow, Russia
• Paris, France
• Pireus, Greece
• Scotland Travelling mission based in Edinburgh
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Rotterdam, the Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Torrevieja, Spain

Africa

• Africa, Travelling mission in Africa south of Sahara
• Gran Canaria, Spain
• Lanzarote, Spain
• Tenerife, Spain

Americas

• Brazil Based in Rio de Janeiro
• Houston, USA (Seamen's Church of Houston)
• Los Angeles, USA (see Norwegian Seamen's Church, San Pedro)
• Miami, USA
• Montréal, Canada (closed in 1994)
• New Orleans, USA
• New York, USA
• San Francisco, USA
• Vancouver, BC, Canada

Asia

• Azerbaijan, Travelling mission
• Dubai
• East Asia, Travelling mission
• Pattaya, Thailand
• Phuket, Thailand
• Singapore
• South Asia, Travelling mission in South and South-East Asia

Australia

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

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

• Norwegian Church, Cardiff
• Norwegian Seamen's Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Norwegian Seamen's Church, Montréal, Québec, Canada
• Norwegian Church, Swansea

See also

• Harald V of Norway (patron)
• Apostleship of the Sea
• British & International Sailors’ Society
• Danish Seamen’s Church and Church Abroad
• Church of Sweden Abroad
• Finnish Seamen's Mission
• International Christian Maritime Association
• Scandinavian churches in London

External links

Media related to Norwegian churches abroad at Wikimedia Commons

• The church's home page