The Danish Church – “serious and modern”
By Emelie Krugly
As all the other Scandinavian churches, the Danish Church in Regent’s Park, London, has a very busy agenda. Activities range from literature and needlework groups to kids and film clubs, and around Christmas it gets even busier!
The church also has its own much loved shop stocked with popular groceries and specialities from Denmark and, of course, there is the YWCA’s annual Christmas Bazaar – a must for all Danes.
Christmas celebrations
One of the popular events around Christmas is the Lucia celebration on December 13. Of course, the most popular services are on Christmas Eve when many homesick Danes come together for support and celebration.
“Loneliness is a difficult thing,” Dorte Jensen, who together with Poul Jensen manages the church, remarks. “We are helping people to get through the day in the nicest possible way. Sometimes you need somewhere you can feel you belong and are understood.”
History and mission
Although the Danish church did not move into its current location in the neo-gothic St Katharine’s Church until 1950, it has a long history; the congregation was founded in 1692.
But what is the mission of today’s church? When asked, the church’s two pastors, Else Hviid and Henrik Olsen fall silent for a moment before Else Hviid answers: “The Danish Church doesn’t have a vision like the Swedish and Norwegian. We are a Christian church; our main objective is to spread ‘the good news’. We aim to be both a serious and modern church.”
Facts about the Danish Church
The London congregation is part of the Danske Sømands og Udlands Kirker (DSUK) which is affiliated to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark.
Around 100,000 visit the Danish Church every year
On the average 70 people take part in the Sunday service
About 110 children go to the church’s Saturday Language School.
Address: 4 St. Katharine’s Precinct, Regent’s Park, NW1 4HH London
Nearest Underground stations: Camden Town or Great Portland Street.
The Christmas Bazaar takes place on Saturday, November 28 from 12-5pm and Sunday, November 29 from 12-4pm, at Danish YWCA, 43 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5TF
For more details visit: www.danskekirke.org
Mon, Nov 2, 2009
Features