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Church Micro 5846...Rotherhithe - Sjomannskirken Traditional Geocache

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Hidden : 5/22/2014
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
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Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

 

The Norwegian Church in London

Since 1696

 


You are looking for a magnetic 35mm film cannister.

 

The Great Fire
Following the Great Fire of London in 1666 the timber trade between Norway/Denmark and England grew considerably. Many Norwegians settled in London, and they worked hard to get their own church – their first congregation took place in 1692 and the first Danish-Norwegian church was consecrated in Wapping in 1696. It was both parish church as well as a seamen's church for the many Danish and Norwegian sailors arriving on the Thames.

The 19th Century
After the Napoleonic Wars, Norway was ceded to Sweden and the church was dissolved. Norwegian shipping flourished during the 1800's, and on Pentecost 1868 the first Norwegian priest started his work in Rotherhithe. A new church, consecrated in 1872, was built near the Surrey Commercial Docks and it became the parish church for expatriate Norwegians in London.

The New Church
After some 50 years a building plot was purchased next to the entrance to the Rotherhithe Tunnel. The foundation stone was laid in 1926 by the then Crown Prince Olav, who was also present when the church was consecrated on the 26th June 1927. The church celebrated its 75 anniversary in 2002 in the presence of the The King and Queen of Norway.

The War
During the second war, this was the church of the exiled Norwegian King, Crown Prince, and Government, as well as the local Norwegian population. The church was pro-Cathedral, where priests were ordained for service in the free world and from where King Haakon 7 broadcast many of his great speeches to the Norwegian people. The special link between the Norwegian Royal Family and the church is evident to this day.


Update
In September 2015 I was married here - it's a wonderful friendly church, take a look inside if you get the chance.
The churchyard was completely renovated in 2017, with the help of a Norwegian shipping entrepreneur who's daughter was sadly killed when she got herself caught in the pulley of a window blind. The water statue is in her memory.

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Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Oruvaq F

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)