church – Welsh Norwegian Society

Exploring the long history of Scandinavia in the British Isles

August 27, 2026 by Kevin Burden, posted in History, News

As you may know, the Norwegian Church Cardiff Bay – the charity which manages the venue – is fortunate to have the services of a dedicated heritage officer.

Thomas Alexander Husøy-Ciaccia is building quite a reputation as a historian, both in Wales and in his native Norway, helping the church to win important funding to increase knowledge and understanding of the links between the two countries.

Remarkably, he has been able to organise an important conference, to be held at the church in October, to celebrate the rich history and heritage of Norway and Scandinavia in the British Isles. Made possible through the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the conference marks the culmination of the Norwegian Church Heritage Research and Outreach Project.

We are promised fascinating talks from leading academics, researchers and heritage professionals covering everything from Viking heritage and maritime history to wartime stories, public history and the enduring connections between Norway and the UK.

Tickets are free but should be reserved online at https://fixr.co/event/norwegian-and-scandinavian-history-and-heritage-in-tickets-659544771

Heritage officer Thomas Husøy welcomes a delegation from the Norwegian Embassy in the UK to the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay — Heritage officer Thomas Husøy welcomed a delegation from the Norwegian Embassy in the UK to the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay earlier this year

Constitution Day (Norwegian National Day) – Sunday 17 May 2026

May 10, 2026May 11, 2026 by Kevin Burden, posted in News

Timings for the annual Constitution Day parade and celebration in Cardiff have been confirmed as follows:

2.30 pm Gather outside the Wales Millennium Centre, Roald Dahls Plass, Cardiff

2.45 pm Procession marches past the Senedd to the Norwegian Church

3.00 pm Welcome from Martin Price, chair of trustees of the Norwegian Church Cardiff Bay

Raising of the flag and singing of the National Anthem, Ja, vi elsker

3.15 pm Move inside the church for a traditional 17th May programme led by Torill Heavens of the Welsh Norwegian Society.

Laying of the wreath of remembrance.

3:45 pm End of official programme.

Everyone is welcome.

The Norsk café bar and terrace will be open until 6 pm for the sale of refreshments and Norwegian food items.

There will also be a very last chance to see the exhibition Vikings and Wales: Past and Present in the upstairs gallery. Discover the history of the Vikings in medieval Wales and see how people engage with this heritage today, through modern reenactments and inclusive heathenry. The exhibition also features folk art and interactive experiences, including Viking Age board games.

Romjul: a Norwegian Christmas in Wales

October 17, 2025August 17, 2025 by Kevin Burden, posted in News

Romjul – pronounced “rom-yool” – is the Norwegian word for the period between Christmas and the New Year. This year it is also the title of an exciting new theatre production, developed by the Welsh drama company Theatr na n’Og in collaboration with the Norwegian Church Arts Centre and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

It tells the story of two Norwegian sisters evacuated to Cardiff during WWII, who find themselves hiding from “trolls” in the little white church in the heart of Cardiff Docks.

It features traditional Norwegian stories and folk songs, and is an educational performance aimed at schools and families. Shows will last around 45 minutes.

There are public performances in English on the following dates:

Wednesday 3 December: 6:00pm
Saturday 6 December: 11:30am
Sunday 7 December: 11:30am (part of the Festival of Light celebrations)
Wednesday 10 December: 6:00pm
Saturday 13 December: 11:30am
Sunday 14 December: 11:30am

Tickets are £10 each and are available to purchase, either in person at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre or online at: www.norwegianchurchcardiff.com/whats-on/

Poster advertising exhibition on Cardiff and the Norwegian Community in the Second World War

Wartime Cardiff and the Norwegian community

July 25, 2025August 17, 2025 by Kevin Burden, posted in History, News

During the Second World War, Cardiff became a temporary home for many Norwegians — seafarers, refugees, and members of the resistance — who helped shape the city’s wartime history.

Now, a new exhibition aims to tell their story. It’s being organised by the heritage officer at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay, Thomas Husøy, and his colleagues. They would love to hear stories of the Norwegian community from that time, and would especially welcome the chance to put on display photographs, artefacts, and archival material.

Contact Thomas at thomas@norwegianchurchcardiff.com if you’ve something to share.

The exhibition will run in the upstairs gallery at the church between 16 September and 19 October. Admission will be free of charge.

An invitation to reflect on the diverse religious and cultural heritage of Wales

March 31, 2025August 17, 2025 by Kevin Burden, posted in News

The heritage team at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre invite the members of the Welsh Norwegian Society to attend its upcoming heritage conference.

On April 9th, we are organising part two of a conference event for our heritage project. The first part took place in November with the theme “South Wales Port Communities: Heritage and History.” It will now be followed by the event “The Diverse Religious and Cultural Heritage of Wales.” The event is co-organised with Cardiff University and Llafur.

The event is due to start at 10:30, and those who are interested can register for the event on this link: https://fixr.co/event/the-diverse-religious-and-cultural-heritage-of-wal-tickets-334507467

Events in 2025

March 15, 2025August 17, 2025 by Kevin Burden, posted in News

We apologise for the lack of communication and absence of events so far in 2025. Thank you for your patience. We just haven’t yet been able to build a calendar of events this year. Like all voluntary societies these days, we are short of volunteers to take on the duties (and rewards!) of organising and communicating activities. The big calendar events of the year – Norwegian national day, the midsummer party and the Festival of Light and Friendship at Christmas – absorb a lot of our capacity. We would welcome help with those, and/or the much less taxing monthly get-togethers. We have use of the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay; we can also travel and meet up elsewhere, as we did in Abergavenny last year. But it is always helpful to have a focal point – a speaker, a topic, an activity (such as cooking, crafting or learning the language) to bring people in. We know there is interest but cannot meet the demand with the existing resources. If you’d be willing and able to take on some of the load – however little – we’d love to hear from you. This is the 30th anniversary year of the WNS and we’d very much like to keep going!

It is exceptionally late notice – but we have decided to hold an informal get-together at the Norwegian Church tomorrow, Sunday 16 March, at 2 pm. All are very welcome.

Fellow members have promised to bring Norwegian books to swap or borrow.

There is also talk that it is Scandinavian week at Lidl – so a great chance to pick up snacks and sweets.

Finally, we have confirmed with the church that this year’s national day celebrations will go ahead, with a small difference to the usual schedule, but one which will bring us more into line with the typical Norwegian practice. 17th May being a Saturday this year, we will celebrate in the morning, meeting at the Millennium Centre at 10.15, with a flag parade to the Church at 10.30 and speeches and flag raising at 11.00.

We will ask the church caterers to put on a Norwegian-themed menu. We hope to be able to put on a concert with the church’s new house quartet and perhaps some activities for children.

We hope to see you tomorrow, on 17th May or at one of the other yet-to-be-scheduled events. If you can help, please let us know!

Med vennlig hilsen

Your WNS committee

A view from the gallery of the Norwegian Church in Cardiff of the Christmas service

Festival of Light and Friendship 2024: Sunday 1 December

November 20, 2024March 31, 2025 by Kevin Burden, posted in News

It is the highlight of this part of the year for us and for growing numbers of people who come to join in our celebration of international and intercultural friendship – and to throw some light into the even-darkening days.

Come and join us at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay where the Norsk cafe will be open all day for food and drinks.

The Salvation Army Band will again play a selection of British and Norwegian carols from 4 pm.

At 4.30, we will welcome our official visitors including the new Lord Mayor of Cardiff and representatives of Vestland County Council and, we hope, from Norway’s Embassy in London.

There’ll be some short readings in English, Welsh and Norwegian, some carol singing and lighting of lights on the tree and throughout the church.

The cafe will remain open until 6 for further refreshments.

Christmas decorations at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff

Decorate the Christmas tree – Saturday 23 November

November 20, 2024 by Kevin Burden, posted in News

We like to make sure that the church and the large Christmas tree that will stand proud throughout the many concerts and celebrations that take place over the holiday season reflect Norwegian tradition and culture – and so we ‘pynte’ or decorate them in a traditional style. There is no tinsel on a Norwegian Christmas tree!

Do come and join us on Saturday 23 November at 2.30 pm.

All are welcome.

We’ll bring the decorations – and supply coffee and cake.

Come with cheer and conversation!

Autumn meetings, 2024

October 17, 2024 by Kevin Burden, posted in News

Welcome back! Of course, you may not have been away, but it is a Scandinavian tradition to disappear and make the most of the short period of long summer days, enjoying ‘friluftsliv‘ – life outdoors.

We usually congregate at the Norwegian Church in October for a social gathering. Sadly, we have had to cancel the event planned for Sunday 20 October as no one was available to run it, due to work and study commitments.

We will be back for the highlights of the year in the run-up to Christmas.

Decorating the Christmas tree at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff

On Saturday 23 November we will meet to decorate the Christmas tree in the church with traditional Norwegian decorations, some of them hand-made.

The Festival of Light and Friendship at the Norwegian Church

And then on Sunday 1 December at 3pm we will hold our annual Festival of Light and Friendship.

Save the dates, and please join us at one or both of those events!

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