Svalbard Church

Svalbard Church (Norwegian: Svalbard kirke) is located at Longyearbyen in Svalbard, Norway. It was the northernmost church in the world, before the St. Nicolas church was built in Nagurskoye, Russia.[1][2]

Svalbard Church at Longyearbyen
Interior of Svalbard Church

The first church at Longyearbyen was consecrated on August 28, 1921. During World War II it was burned during a bombing. In 1956 the foundation stone for the new church was laid down. The architect was Hans Magnus, and the church was consecrated on August 24, 1958. The wooden church is built in a rectangular shape, and has 140 seats. The original silvery altar candlesticks together with the baptismal bowl, which was a gift from King Haakon VII and Queen Maud, are currently placed in the new Svalbard church.[3]

The parish belongs to the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland of the Church of Norway. It has a minister and two other employees. Svalbard Church is the only church in Svalbard archipelago, but there is a Russian Orthodox chapel in Barentsburg. The minister visits other communities on Svalbard: Svea, and Ny-Ålesund.[4]

References
  1. "Svalbard Kirke". Visit Svalbard AS. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  2. "Take a tour of Russia's new, otherworldly Arctic military base". Alaska Dispatch Publishing. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  3. "Svalbard Kirke". Den Norske Kirke. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  4. "Svalbard Kirke". Norsk senter for forskningsdat. Retrieved November 1, 2016.


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