At the Cathedral
Ed and I went to Norwich Cathedral on Tuesday evening, to see Bishop Hans Stiglund (I think that’s his name) installed as an ecumenical honorary canon of the cathedral.
Bishop Hans is the Lutheran bishop of Lulea in Northern Sweden. His diocese extends right up into the Arctic Circle. I met him some years ago, when our diocese first had informal links with Lulea. I was fortunate enough to be chosen as one of a small party of priests from Norwich diocese to visit Lulea. I stayed with Soren Ollson and his family; he’s a Lutheran priest in the diocese. Had a great time.
I particularly remember his twelve-year-old daughter kicking up one day about going to school. She didn’t want to go because they had skiing lessons that day! I thought how any English child would give their eye teeth to have skiing lessons at school.
Later, a party from Soren’s parish came to our deanery for a week, then a party from our deanery went to Sweden in the March, when it was still six foot of snow and twelve degrees below zero. Didn’t feel cold, though, because there was no wind.
I also remember the dining room chairs on runners. The old people sat on them and were pushed to church over the snow. We borrowed one of these chairs and had a terrific time sliding down the hill on it. They must have thought we were all mad.
The other marvellous sight was a huge herd of reindeer in the forest, all with colourful bells and collars, and herded by Finnish gypsies. Brilliant – and I’ve got a great movie of it.
Our diocesan link with Lulea was made official in the cathedral on Tuesday on the same occasion as Bishop Hans being made canon, so maybe there’ll be more visits in the snow. I’m definitely up for it!