Norwegian Lutheran Church
The Church in Grytviken, in 2004
LocationGrytviken, South Georgia, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Built1913
Norwegian Anglican Church (Whalers’ Church) in Grytviken
DenominationChurch of England
Previous denominationChurch of Norway (1913–2013)
History
Dedication25 December 1913
Administration
ProvinceExtra-provincial
DioceseFalkland Islands
Clergy
Priest(s)Rev. Kristen Løken (1885–1975) 1913–1914
Church c. 1915

The Norwegian Anglican Church, sometimes known as the Whalers Church, and as the Norwegian Lutheran Church (until 2013), and casually as the Grytviken Church, is a church in Grytviken, South Georgia, built in 1913. The church was part of the Church of Norway for a century, from 1913 to 2013. It was formally handed over to the Church of England (national church of England) in 2013, and is now part of the Anglican Communion's Diocese of the Falkland Islands.[1]

History and architecture

The Neo-Gothic church was pre-built in Norway and erected in Grytviken by whalers led by Carl Anton Larsen around 1912–1913. The church consists of a single nave leading to a small altar. A small library is attached to the side near the altar.[2] Inside, worshippers (and now visitors) are seated on long wood benches. The floor's dark wood planks contrast with the white walls and ceiling.

The church, one of the world's southernmost churches, was consecrated on Christmas Day in 1913. In 1922, a funeral service for Sir Ernest Shackleton was conducted in the church before his burial amongst 64 others in the church cemetery.[3] The cemetery, located approximately 700 metres (2,300 ft) to the south on the other end of Grytviken Harbour, also holds empty graves for whalers lost at sea.[4]

Pastor

The church was led by Kristen Løken, from 1913 to 1914. Løken was born in 1885 in Lillehammer in Norway. He was made Pastor of South Georgia, and arrived in 1912 to take up his post. He was responsible for supervising the building of the church building, and left his church in 1914, and was the only pastor for this church. He died in 1975.

Grytviken Cemetery

The Grytviken Cemetery, associated with the church, is located about 700 metres (2,300 ft) away to the south. It predates the church, first accepting whalers' graves before 1902. It holds 64 graves, including nine victims of a 1912 typhoid epidemic, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922), the ashes of fellow polar explorer Frank Wild (1873–1939) which were interred in 2011, and Félix Artuso, an Argentinian submarine officer who was killed in the 1982 British recapture of South Georgia from Argentina.[5][6][7][8][9]

Restoration and maintenance

Church Interior in 2011
Model of church on display at Sandefjord Museum in Norway.

In April 1982, during the invasion of South Georgia by Argentinian military forces, members of a British Antarctic Survey team were invited by some Royal Marines to take shelter in the church.[10]

After years of abandonment and weathering the harsh elements of the region (the roof was damaged in 1994), the church was renovated by the keepers of South Georgia Museum and volunteers in 1996–1998, and now serves for occasional church services and marriage ceremonies.[11]

The church had a cameo appearance in the 2006 animated film Happy Feet.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Restored church near Antarctica holds 'first service in its 105-year history'". The Church Times. London. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "Cruise to the whalers ghost town of Grytviken and Stromness in South Georgia. Visit Shackleton memorial grave. Pictures of ghost towns". Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  3. ↑ Alexander, Caroline (1998). The Endurance : Shackleton's legendary Antarctic expedition. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN 0-7475-4123-X. OCLC 60156254.
  4. ↑ "Worldwide Antarctic Program". 23 October 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  5. ↑ Lurcock, Pat M. (12 November 2010). "South Georgia's Cemeteries: Grytviken Cemetery". Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Ernest Shackleton's grave". South Georgia's Cemeteries. 12 November 2010. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Frank Wild's grave". South Georgia's Cemeteries. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  8. ↑ Evans, Michael (5 October 2007). "Marine killed Argentinian in Falklands war blunder". The Times. Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2022.Marine killed Argentinian in Falklands war blunder
  9. ↑ "Félix Artuso's grave". South Georgia's Cemeteries. 12 November 2010. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  10. ↑ Freedman, Lawrence (2005). The official history of the Falklands campaign. Volume I, The origins of the Falklands war. London: Routledge. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-0-203-50786-5. OCLC 826515917.
  11. ↑ "Grytviken Church (Whalers Church)". Wondermondo: Wonders of the World. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
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