On Sunday 21st June 2026 a special service of Holy Communion marked the 75th anniversary of the laying of the first restoration stone at St Olave Hart Street by King Haakon VII of Norway with Crown Prince Olav and The Bishop of Trondheim, which began the process of reconstructing the church after bomb damage in WW2.
We were delighted to be joined by sixty members of the oldest choir in Norway, Nidarosdomens Guttekor – the choir of boys and men from Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim (where Saint Olaf is buried) who were on a tour of UK churches and cathedrals.
Two members of Nidarosdomens Guttekor removed the Norwegian Flag (the same flag that was used in 1951) to unveil the ‘restoration stone’ before prayers of Thanksgiving were led by The Venerable Katherine Hedderly, Archdeacon of Charing Cross and The Reverend Canon Andreas Hilmo Grandy-Teig, Canon Precentor and Vicar of Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim delivered a message of friendship from the current Bishop of Trondheim.
The service of Holy Communion was led by The Reverend Phillip Dawson, Rector of St Olave Hart Street, who also gave the address (which can be read at this link). The Rector of the Norwegian Church in London, The Reverend Geir Øy read the gospel and the Chaplain of the Norwegian Church, The Reverend Ellen Marie Skillingstad also took part in the liturgy, leading The Lord’s Prayer in Norwegian. The Chairman of the Anglo-Norse Society, Paul Gobey, was in attendance, along with members of the congregation of the Norwegian Church in London. The Honourable Mary Ann Slim, Master of The Clothworkers’ Company read the first lesson. Deputy Marianne Fredericks CC, represented the Alderman and Councillors of Tower Ward of the City of London.
The combined choirs of the St Olave Singers and Nidarosdomens Guttekor were conducted by Thomas Berg-Juul, supported by Johannes Köpple, Executive Director, Nidarosdomens Guttekor with Colin Spinks, Director of Music at St Olave Hart Street and Dr Marilyn Ruth Brattskar, Kantor and Organist at Holmen Church on the organ.
A parish party was held afterwards in the churchyard.
The Rector of St Olave Hart Street, The Reverend Phillip Dawson, said:
“Thank you to all who attended this special service celebrating the restoration of this remarkable church and renewing the important connections between England and Norway and between St Olave Hart Street and Nidaros Cathedral. We look forward to more special services and events in the years ahead as we prepare to celebrate 1,000 years since Olaf became a saint in 2030 and we strive to be symbols of the living hope to which this place testifies.”
Download the order of service at this link.
