Fewer go to church on ‘julaften’

Norwegians have traditionally headed for special church services during the Christmas holidays, especially on julaften (Christmas Eve). New statistics indicate the tradition is fading rapidly. Church officials report a 13 percent decline in attendance over the past five years. Newspaper Vårt Land reported last week that around 543,000 Norwegians attended Christmas services nationwide last year, [...]

New ‘lead bishop’ ordained

Norway’s state church received the closest it can come to an archbishop over the weekend when Bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien was formally ordained as the country’s first permanent preses, or lead bishop. The ceremony, in Norway’s Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, was attended by King Harald V and broadcast live on national television. Byfuglien was named [...]

Church elections expect high turnout

While Norwegian politicians gear up for local elections across the country on September 11-12, another ballot will be taking place at the same time – the Church of Norway elections, which will see contests for a number of positions in the established state church. More than 3 million Norwegians have been sent their voter cards [...]

Westboro Baptists to ‘picket’ funerals

The Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, known for their protests at the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq, has threatened to picket the burials of victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Norway. A press release from the church, titled “Norway must repent or perish,” announces protests at the funerals “to warn the living: they [...]

Norwegian Muslims react to attacks

Many Norwegian Muslims were harassed in the hours following the Oslo attacks before the arrested suspect was confirmed to be ethnically Norwegian. Nonetheless, many observers, backed by polling data and a surge of interest in integration initiatives, suggest that Norway has reacted with greater faith in multiculturalism, as the burials of the first two victims [...]

Cathedral concert honours victims

A memorial concert held at Oslo Cathedral for the victims, survivors and emergency service personnel involved in the terror attacks on Oslo and Utøya island was seen by thousands of Norwegians and others from around the world on the night of Saturday July 30. The event, organized by Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), featured a number of [...]

Teenager admits to church fire

A 17-year-old Norwegian boy has finally admitted starting the fire that destroyed Østre Porsgrunn Church on April 11. The boy had already been charged in the fire, along with an 18-year-old companion. Both were arrested once again earlier this week, because police suspect them of also being behind a fire near Borgestad Church the same [...]

Stave church outshone by toilets

Each year, around 100 000 tourists make a stop at Borgund stave church at Lærdal in the mountains of Norway, but not necessarily to see the historic national landmark. A lack of alternative rest stops along state highway 16 means that busloads of visitors are more interested in touring the bathroom facilities than a wooden [...]

Christian Democrats attempt renewal

The annual conference of the greatly reduced Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig folkeparti, Krf), which took place this weekend, saw the official beginning of their new leader’s reign and key decisions regarding rules concerning the faith of its elected members – two decisions which are designed to renew the party’s fortunes. Once a key party in [...]

Further arrest in church arson case

An 18 year-old male was arrested and questioned late on Friday night in the arson case surrounding the Østre Porsgrunn church, while the church council received further good news in the form of a large donation to help build the church anew. A 17 year-old had already been arrested last week after a lengthy, resource-intensive [...]

Oslo Dean: al-Qaradawi ‘important’

The Dean of Oslo Cathedral has described controversial Islamic scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi as “an important person” who Norwegians “should be open to” coming to the country. A Turkish newspaper reported on Thursday that al-Qaradawi, who has been accused of Holocaust denial, discrimination against women and homosexuals, and support for terrorism, would be coming to Norway [...]

17 year-old accused of church arson

A 17 year-old has been arrested and charged with arson for the burning down of the historic Østre Porsgrunn church on April 11. Police had originally searched for four suspects, two of whom were seen running from the crime scene, while two others were seen on a moped nearby. The fire is believed to have [...]

Remnants of ancient church found

As Levanger celebrates its 1000th anniversary, a vaulted basement in the center of town has been found to contain ashlar blocks of prepared marble, remnants of a medieval church. Tasked with searching for traces of early settlement in the town of Levanger in Northern Trøndelag, the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) were performing [...]

Burned church lacked sprinklers

The 250 year-old Østre Porsgrunn church, which burned down on April 11 2011, should have had a sprinkler installed after a change to the law 20 years ago, according to the Norwegian Fire Protection Association. Dagfinn Kalheim, chief executive of the association, told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that such an “important culturally historic building” with “large [...]

Stave church to be restored

One of the biggest attractions at the Norwegian Folkmuseum in Oslo, its landmark stave church from the 13th century, will be closed at the end of this year’s summer tourist season for a major restoration expected to take two years. The church, said by experts to have been built in 1212 in the mountain valley [...]

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