Name: Swedish Church
Denomination: Lutheran
Address: 6 Harcourt Street. W1H 2BD
Telephone: 020 7723 5681
Fax 020 7724 2178
Web Site: https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/london
Email: Click Here
Please visit the website for times of services and details of other events.
Just a short walk from Baker Street Station you will find the Swedish church in London. On our premises you will find a café, with traditional homemade cinnamon buns and Swedish coffee. On our notice boards you can sometimes find work, a place to rent and things that people want to sell. We have activities for both young peoples, families and seniors.
On Lower Road you can find The Swedish Seamen´s Church and hostel.
Ulrika Eleonora Church
For almost 300 years the Swedish Church in London has been a spiritual home and a source of security and hope for Swedish residents, seafarers and visitors.
Worship at Ulrika Eleonora Church includes Parish Communion, Family Services, morning prayer and services of communion during the week. About twice a year Parish Communion is in English.
The church is available during opening hours for private prayer. Music plays a vital role in the services.
The Café/Reading Room
Ulrika Eleonora Church provides a environment for respite and social contact. Swedish newspapers and refreshments are available. Parishioners assist as receptionists at the welcome desk. A mini-shop for the sale of Swedish sweets, postcards and food is open in the Swedish hall at Ulrika Eleonora Church whenever the church is open. It is run by volunteers, and its proceeds are administered by a company, Swedish Church Services Ltd, which deals with the hostel, the parish magazine. All profits go to the church as “gift aid’ for tax purposes.
The Library
Ulrika Eleonora Church offers books and DVDs for loan to paying members. For information, ask any member of staff.
Swedish Hall – hiring the premises
The Swedish Hall is used for a wide range of parish and external activities and can seat 150. The space can, when available, be hired for commercial, social and private use. The library, which seats 30, can also be hired.
Notice Boards
Information about jobs and accommodation in the London area is to be found on notice boards in both churches. If you wish to put up a note or a poster you may contact the volounteers at Ulrika Eleonora and the Seamen’s Church.
History
The Swedish Congregation in London, Ulrika Eleonora, was formed in 1710. It came to be linked to the Diocese of Uppsala and under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Uppsala. Swedish Seamen’s Churches, in existence from the middle of the 19th century, had a separate organisation. In 1989 all Swedish churches abroad were merged into a joint organisation: The Church of Sweden Abroad, under the General Synod of the Church of Sweden. The Swedish Seamen’s Church in London is an integral part of Ulrika Eleonora Swedish Church in London. There are Swedish Seamen’s Churches in Liverpool and Middlesbrough. The Archbishop of Uppsala is bishop for all the Swedish Churches abroad.
Architecture
The Swedish Church in Harcourt Street W1 replaced in 1911 the Church built in Wapping 1728. Several items were brought from the old Church to the new one. The architect was Wigglesworth and the façade was designed by A H Haig.
Doctrine and Membership
The Church of Sweden is a Lutheran Evangelical Church through the Porvoo Agreement in close contact with the Church of England. Some 85% of the population of Sweden are members of the Church of Sweden.
Members of the Congregation
Members of Ulrika Eleonora Congregation are those who belong to the Church of Sweden and live in the parish – England south of and including Birmingham. The Church Council may accept applications for membership from other Christians. The electoral roll comprises all members paying an annual Church Subscription.
Mailing List
The mailing list of the Swedish Church consists of some 7,500 Swedish households in the UK. The total number of Swedish households in the UK is 13,000, amounting to some 25-35,000 individuals. The Swedish Churches in the UK also work amongst seamen, tourists, students and au pairs. The Seamen’s Church in London runs a hostel for young Swedish students and workers has 21 beds.
Newsletter
Kyrkobladet (72 pages, 11,000 copies), with full details of the activities at the Swedish Churches in the UK, adverts and other useful information, is printed and distributed free of charge to Swedish households and companies in the UK.
Facilities
An annual report, with detailed information on the activities and structures, may be obtained from the Church.