Details
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Reproduction
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Object numberCARCM:2011.19
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Cardiff was one of the first ports to establish a church for Norwegian sailors. The trade of timber for pit props and coal between Norway and Cardiff meant that many sailors stopped off in Cardiff while waiting for their ships to go home.
In 1868 the Church was built as a place for Norwegian seamen to worship, write letters home and to socialise. As more Norwegians began to settle in Cardiff, it became an important community centre for the Norwegian community.
This sign hung on the Church before it was dismantled and relocated to its current site in 1992.
Ellen Wayne's father, Steffen Greve, was Norwegian and ran the Cardiff office of the Norwegian Seamen's Union: "My father, ran the Cardiff office of the Norwegian Seamen's Union from 1926 until 1947, and again during the 1950s. He secured improvements for the welfare of sailors….The Norwegian Church was founded by the Norwegian Seamen's Mission and was a place where seamen could visit whilst in port, read newspapers and magazines from home, write letters to loved ones, relax and chat with friends. There were always services on Sundays.”
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Physical descriptionLarge, metal green sign with white text.
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Object name
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Material
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Dimensions
- Height: 1250 mm
Width: 915 mm
Depth: 2 mm
