Bishop Robert writes in his latest blog:

I was delighted to visit Norway on the weekend before Ascension to confirm a large and diverse group of young and younger people at our chaplaincy in Oslo. St. Edmund’s is not a large building, and on this occasion it was absolutely packed – which is a nice problem to have. The candidates (above) had varied and interesting stories to tell of their journey to faith. In a deeply secular country, owning one’s Christian faith publicly is somewhat counter-cultural and needs some resolution and courage. 

This gorgeous tapestry hanging inside the church depicts the death of the martyr St. Edmund. He was King of East Anglia in the ninth century and was killed in Suffolk when Danish Vikings invaded in 869. ‘In you O Lord have I put my trust.’ (psalm 31). That struck me as a very fitting verse for our confirmation candidates. 

The Bishop’s Chair is a particularly fine piece of furniture, elegantly carved and beautifully upholstered. I was only sad not to have more time to sit in it. 

Along with confirming our candidates in church, we also visited a bedbound younger lady to give a home confirmation and communion. That was an experience both humbling and inspiring. 

Our Chaplaincy in Norway has four main centres: Oslo, Trondheim, Stavanger and Bergen – where we had an evening service. I would loved to have gone by train – but it takes up to nine hours and time did not permit, so we flew – and were rewarded with spectacular aerial views of the west coast of Norway. 

Bergen is Norway’s second city – a centre of shipping and finance. I loved the colourful properties along the harbour front.

A negotiation conducted by Bishop David Hamid with the Norwegian Lutheran Church led to an agreement whereby we are able to use, for a modest rent, the historic and lovely Mariakirken in the centre of the city. It has a particularly lofty pulpit, which I was asked to use, and which provided a fine platform for addressing a big congregation. I couldn’t help thinking how many other communities in our diocese would love to be able to use such a suitable and central building for their Sunday worship. 

Our young confirmation candidate (second from left in traditional Norwegian costume) had been prepared for confirmation by Norah (far left), who is youth co-ordinator, and a space scientist. Bergen’s Assistant chaplain, The Revd. Martin Chirume, is on the right and lay reader Iris Evans-Bjørno next to him.

Norway is a vast country, and the situation of our Anglican communities is closely bound into and dependent on our warm relations with the Norwegian Lutheran Church, with whom we are in full communion via the Porvoo Agreement. This allows full exchangeability of ministers, in both directions, and specifically means we have quite a lot of Lutherans holding PtO for our congregations. 

Norway is a very wealthy country (perhaps the fourth wealthiest in the world), but there is still evident spiritual need. I am very pleased that our Anglican church can be a part of meeting this need and, though relatively small, has a valued place in the country’s spiritual economy. 

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