Norwegian matters

To the Norwegian Church (left) in Rotherhithe for a gathering of Area Deans from the Diocese of Bergen  and our own Diocese of Southwark, which is twinned with that Norwegian Diocese.

Here in Bermondsey we enjoy having the Norwegian Church in our deanery.

Our links with Scandinavia go back to the days when many ships from that part of the world called at the nearby Surrey Docks.

The docks are long gone but the Norwegian Church continues to serve the ex-pat population in London and Southwark Park, just across the road, is the centre of the London celebrations of Norway's national day.

Like the Church England, the Church of Norway is a church of the Reformation . It is a Lutheran Church and, until recently, a state church with the monarch as its head. To this day the clergy are paid by the state, rather than by the Church, as is the case in England. (The English clergy were interested to hear their Norwegian brethren are paid about twice as much!)

In the Norwegian Church Lounge, a gathering of deans

There are other big differences too. Area Deans in Norway are like line managers for the clergy in their deanery.

In England, the Area Dean is a first among equals, and the clergy gather as colleagues together for fellowship rather than to receive directions from the Area Dean.

All in all, a fascinating afternoon, seeing some of the differences between our two churches, but recognising that the thing that unites us is our common faith in Jesus Christ.

May God strengthen and revive his church in Norway and in England.