Norwegian Seamen's Church, San Pedro

The Norwegian Seamen's Church (Norwegian: Den norske sjømannskirke) is a Norwegian Church Abroad that doubles as the Church of Sweden Los Angeles (Swedish: Svenska kyrkan Los Angeles), also known as the Swedish Seamen's Church. It is located at 1035 South Beacon Street in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles, California[1][2][3] and is also part of the Church of Sweden Abroad (Swedish: Svenska kyrkan i utlandet). A print on the wall of the lounge area shows an architectural painting indicating Kemper Nomland as the architect.

Norwegian Seamen's Church, San Pedro entryway
A ship hangs from the rafters of interior with nautical themed stained glass windows in background
Interior

The Norwegian church was founded by Elbjørg Amundsen Baardsen and her husband Sig.[4] It opened in 1946 and in 1951 moved to its present location at 1035 South Beacon Street.[5] The building cost $80,000 to complete.[6] Since 1952 there has also been a Swedish staff at the church,[7] and a Swedish service takes place once every month.[5] Lutheran baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals are performed at the Norwegian Seamen's Church,[7] but the church is open to everyone and not only to Lutherans.[8]

The Norwegian Seamen's Church provides a place for Swedes and Norwegians who are away from the homeland. Since it is located in a harbor area, it serves many people involved in the shipping business.[7][9] The church gets visits from around 160 Norwegian ships every year, often with one to fifteen Norwegian crew members per ship.[8]

The Norwegian Seamen's Church, which attracts around 15,000 visitors each year,[7] is also visited by Norwegian descendants living in the area,[10] and by several of the thousands of Norwegian inhabitants in Los Angeles. The Norwegian Seamen's Church is the closest connection to Norway for many of these people.[8] The church has regular contact with 500–1,000 families, and sends its newsletter to around 2000 families.[8] There is a school at the church where adults and children can learn Norwegian.[8][11]

References
  1. Steven Valenzuela; Charles Gillingham; Garth Wasson; Monica Alvarez; Richard Henry (1976). Perpetual wave.
  2. "Drømmen om California". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 2008-04-26. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  3. "Sandnessjøen - Hawaii via Hollywood". Helgelands Blad (in Norwegian). 2008-11-06. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  4. "Around the world - Around our town". The Beacon News. Aurora, Illinois. 1999-01-06. p. D2.
  5. Winquist, Alan H.; Rousselow-Winquist, Jessica (2006). "The West". Touring Swedish America: Where to go and what to see. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 366. ISBN 978-0-87351-559-7.
  6. Concordia Theological Seminary (1950). CTM. 21. Concordia Publishing House. p. 629.
  7. "The Norwegian Church in Los Angeles/San Pedro". Sjømannskirken. Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  8. "Mer enn prest i LA". Avisa Nordland (in Norwegian). 2006-12-22. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  9. Augustana annual: yearbook for the Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod. Augustana Book Concern. 1960.
  10. Ernest Marquez; Veronique De Turenne; Geraldine Knatz (2008). Port of Los Angeles: An Illustrated History from 1850 to 1945. Angel City Press. p. 166.
  11. "Norskundervisning". Sjømannskirken. Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.

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