About the Partners
The Scandinavian Christmas Market is a partnership between Southwark Council, The Norwegian Church in London, The Finnish Church in London and Scan Events.
The Norwegian Church in London – Sjomannskirken
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The Norwegian Church in London – Sjomannskirken – is part the network of Norwegian Churches abroad and serves as a cultural, social and spiritual meeting place for Norwegians living in the London area.
An estimated 8000 – 10000 Norwegians live in London, and the Church meets with 25000 people each year. It is open to everyone who wants someone to talk to, and visits are made daily throughout the city; at offices, on boats, in homes, at hospitals and at various arrangements. The Church is located 1,5 kilometres east of Tower Bridge, just south of the Thames, and was opened in 1927 by Crown Prince Olav of Norway.
Creating an atmosphere of home away from home, the Church offers everything from waffles to Norwegian TV and newspapers. There is also a wide range of activities provided for all age groups to take part in. The main service is held every Sunday at 11am, where coffee, home made cakes and lunch is served after the service.
The Norwegian Churches Abroad and travelling chaplains have an international network of places where seafarers, students, business people, tourists, families and other travelling Norwegians can come together. Founded in 1864, The Norwegian Seamen’s Mission – Sjomannsmisjonen – was established to secure the moral and religious education of Scandinavian seafarers, but also to give them a “breathing space” where a fellow countryman was available to lend an ear and give some attention. Today, the churches and their staff together with travelling priests around the globe represent a “resource center” for all Norwegians travelling internationally.
The Finnish Church in London
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The Finnish Church in London is a Christian, cultural and social meeting place for all Finns who live either permanently or temporarily in Great Britain or in Ireland, as well as for their family and friends. The church is also open to all the friends of Finland. It is willing to help all those who find themselves in trouble. However, you can come to church even if the trouble is lack of Finnish rye bread or you just want to enjoy a traditional sauna.
The Finnish Seamen’s Mission – Suomen Merimieskirkko ry – was established in 1875. There was a need to help Finns who were experiencing problems during their stay abroad, in other words seafarers and immigrants.
The Finnish Seamen’s Mission “works in co-operation with the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Finland, and observes its confessional Christian, social, cultural and diaconic work among seafarers and Finns living abroad, and carries out international Christian work at Finnish ports”.
The London operation started in 1882, and since then countless people have visited or worked at the church. Today the Finnish Church is the most important meeting place for Finns living in the British Isles. Many people have left their mark on its history through lifelong contributions, and new stories are written every day as people meet through church-organised activities.
Southwark Council – Rotherhithe
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The area of Rotherhithe has always been associated with shipbuilding and supporting trades, and among these the timber trade with Scandinavia stands out as one of great importance. Rotherhithe was the first place to have docks for the convenience of London, and seafaring is recorded in church memorials and gravestones. With Scandinavian trade arrived Scandinavian seamen, and churches to support sailors from Sweden, Norway and Finland were soon established in the area.
The docks were mostly destroyed during the first blitz of World War II, and shipyards became timber yards or ship salvage. When the last ship left in 1970, the redevelopment work (which had begun during the war) continued, and conversions and new buildings became residential apartments.
As the range of residential accommodation grew, new shopping facilities followed. The traditional role of Albion Street, the thriving retail street in the heart of the dockland community, was challenged. One by one, shops and pubs as well as the library and the Civic Centre were outcompeted.
The Albion Street Steering Group (ASSG) was set up in 2011 to promote local regeneration. The community-led group represents the churches, shops, residents’ and tenants’ associations in the immediate area. It is pursuing public realm improvements through Rotherhithe Community Council funding, as well as the reintroduction of the Albion Street Market. The Market Launch Event will be the Scandinavian Christmas Community Market to be held in late November.
Scan Events
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Scan Events – a part of Scan Magazine – specialises in the design, planning and management of corporate entertainments, exhibitions, conferences, meetings and markets.
Our Exhibitions, Conference & Meetings Planning team offer a complete event management service. Our approach to successful conference planning is simple:
We always put our clients in the front seat.
Our services include:
Creativity and content – Locating venue and vendors – Budget planning and development – Negotiating rates – Invitations – Entertainment – VIP assistance – • Arranging speakers – Design and production of printed material – AV and technical support – On-line delegate registration and tickets
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Bronze Sponsor
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Partners
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