The iconic Norwegian Church café and arts centre on Cardiff’s waterfront has finally re-opened its doors to the public after a two-year closure – and it will again be run by the community which built it in the first place. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff Rod McKerlich ceremonially handed the building over to the Welsh Norwegian Society which ran a long and successful campaign to take the building back under its wing. The handover took place on Norway’s national day, 17th May, and Wales’ small Norwegian community gathered to celebrate, waving flags of red, white and blue, and singing their national anthem accompanied by the Salvation Army band.
Originally built in 1869 to serve Norwegian sailors visiting Cardiff, the church maintained a small congregation until 1974 when it finally closed it doors. It fell into disrepair and was finally dismantled and put into storage. Cardiff author Roald Dahl, himself of Norwegian heritage, was baptised in the church and lent his support to having it reopened. It was rebuilt in its present position as part of the redevelopment of the Bay, and has served as a popular café and arts centre ever since.
“The city council looked after the building well,” says Tyra Oseng-Rees, a Norwegian-born glass artist who now lives near Swansea and heads the society. “But it was hard for the building to maintain its particular identity and heritage while it was under council care. We wanted to breathe new life into the church as a living base and make it more Norwegian, to be a base for our community and to showcase arts and culture and food from Norway.”
That process has already begun, and under the new management the café is serving Norwegian-blend coffee, cakes and open-top sandwiches. A supplier has been found of treats from home, including pickled herring, liquorice and brunost, a soft brown cheese resembling fudge, which even the staff accept is an acquired taste.
The room formerly used for services now hosts civil weddings, meetings, events, and exhibitions, while local craftspeople have been selling their wares in the gallery upstairs. It is planned to have craft sales outside on the newly relaid terrace, which has unrivalled views of the Bay, the Mermaid Quay and the Pierhead building.
Jon Askeland, the mayor of Hordaland county, which is twinned with Cardiff and has had a long and supportive association with the Norwegian Church here, was present to witness the return of the building to the local Norwegian community.
“It’s amazing to see what the community has achieved here,” he said. “The centre provides us with a home abroad, here in Cardiff, a place we recognise and appreciate. It symbolises the long-lasting bond of friendship between Norway and Wales, and it has been given a new life.”
Welsh Norwegian Society 