1926 - St Olav's Church - St Olav's Square, Rotherhithe, London, UK
N 51° 29.953 W 000° 03.246
30U E 704466 N 5709457
St Olav's Church, also known as the Norwegian Church, is a brick built building with a spire. Atop the spire is a weather-vane in the shape of a Viking longboat that looks magnificent with the sun shining upon it.
Waymark Code: WMET55
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/04/2012
Views: 1
The cornerstone reads:
Den Norske Sjomannsmision
St Olav's
Kirke
Denne Kirkes Grvnnsten Blev Lagt
Av
Kronprins Olav
24df Jvni
1926
The Southwark Council website (visit
link) carries an item about the church:
"St Olav's Church, near the entrance to Rotherhithe
tunnel, was built in 1927 as a seamen's mission and as a place of spiritual
welfare for Norwegian sailors coming from the whaling and timber ships when
Surrey docks ere flourishing. It became the focus of Norwegian resistance during
World War II, when the government in exile was based in London.
St Olave's Square in Rotherhithe has historical
connections with Norway. King Canute, sole ruler of England and Norway in 1016,
and King of Norway in 1028, is thought to have constructed a canal, utilising
the area's ditches and streams to bypass heavily defended London bridge, when he
sailed up the Thames to attack London in 1015."
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