the danish church in australia
By Peter Madvig and with additions by Danish Pastor Bente Holdgaard
The Danish Church in Australia is a Lutheran-Evangelical church, offering a religious, cultural and social centre to the Danish communities in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and occasionally elsewhere, e.g. Poowong East. It also provides a support network for Danes holidaying and working temporarily in Australia.
The church is based in Sydney but also has independent congregations with their own church committees in Melbourne and Brisbane – all congregations have the same pastor who travels for regular services and is on call.
Part of the pastor´s salary is funded by DSUK, “The Danish Seaman´s Church/The Danish Church Abroad”, but in all other regards the church relies on its own fundraising and on the generosity of individuals and organisations in the Danish and Australian communities to fund its activities and services.
The Church employs a Danish pastor and an assistant who is involved in administration as well as in youth and children’s activities.
The church is based in Sydney but also has independent congregations with their own church committees in Melbourne and Brisbane – all congregations have the same pastor who travels for regular services and is on call.
Part of the pastor´s salary is funded by DSUK, “The Danish Seaman´s Church/The Danish Church Abroad”, but in all other regards the church relies on its own fundraising and on the generosity of individuals and organisations in the Danish and Australian communities to fund its activities and services.
The Church employs a Danish pastor and an assistant who is involved in administration as well as in youth and children’s activities.
St Mark's Lutheran Church, Brisbane, used for regular Danish church services
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The Swedish Church in Melbourne
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History
Established in Queensland in the beginning of the 20th century, the first pastor representing the Danish Church in Australia was Pastor Bjelke-Petersen, father of Queensland’s former Premier Johannes Bjelke-Petersen.
In 1915 a Danish Minister of Religion, Pastor P.C. Ligaard, graduated from the Lutheran Seminary in USA and was sent to Australia. It was a toilsome job to carry out a Minister’s job. A church building was found in Brisbane, but finances were meagre in this pioneer country.
The Danish Church moved its base to Sydney where the majority of Danes settled over the years. After the 2nd World War the connection with DKU (The Danish Church Abroad) was reopened by the Danish communities in Sydney and Melbourne and a plea for help and for a possible appointment of a Danish minister of Religion to be sent to Australia prevailed through many years.
For at while a Scandinavian Church was established. Danes, Swedes and Norwegians held joint services once a month in the Flying Angel House, Sydney. The pastors came visiting from among others The Swedish Church in Melbourne.
Finally in 1981 DKU sent a Danish pastor for a trial period. A firm basis for the church was then finally established in 1988 after an anonymous donation of 1 million kroner (about 200,000 AUS$) was given. The Church was centred in West Ryde with the congregation leasing larger churches once a month.
In 2002, the Danish Church in Australia celebrated the purchase of its own permanent church buildings in Pennant Hills in Sydney’s Northwest. In 2004, DKU and the Danish Seamen's Church organisations were merged forming DSUK (Danske Sømands- og Udlandskirker) overseeing the Danish Church in Australia.
Various pastors (both permanent and interim positions) have worked at the church since 2002. Ebbesen, Engholm, Skjødt-Jacobsen, Tramm and since 2012, Bente Holgaard, the first female pastor.
In 1915 a Danish Minister of Religion, Pastor P.C. Ligaard, graduated from the Lutheran Seminary in USA and was sent to Australia. It was a toilsome job to carry out a Minister’s job. A church building was found in Brisbane, but finances were meagre in this pioneer country.
The Danish Church moved its base to Sydney where the majority of Danes settled over the years. After the 2nd World War the connection with DKU (The Danish Church Abroad) was reopened by the Danish communities in Sydney and Melbourne and a plea for help and for a possible appointment of a Danish minister of Religion to be sent to Australia prevailed through many years.
For at while a Scandinavian Church was established. Danes, Swedes and Norwegians held joint services once a month in the Flying Angel House, Sydney. The pastors came visiting from among others The Swedish Church in Melbourne.
Finally in 1981 DKU sent a Danish pastor for a trial period. A firm basis for the church was then finally established in 1988 after an anonymous donation of 1 million kroner (about 200,000 AUS$) was given. The Church was centred in West Ryde with the congregation leasing larger churches once a month.
In 2002, the Danish Church in Australia celebrated the purchase of its own permanent church buildings in Pennant Hills in Sydney’s Northwest. In 2004, DKU and the Danish Seamen's Church organisations were merged forming DSUK (Danske Sømands- og Udlandskirker) overseeing the Danish Church in Australia.
Various pastors (both permanent and interim positions) have worked at the church since 2002. Ebbesen, Engholm, Skjødt-Jacobsen, Tramm and since 2012, Bente Holgaard, the first female pastor.
much more than a church
The Danish Church is a religious meeting place, but it is also a cultural and social meeting place: During the year a number of cultural events are organised, such as Carnival, St. Martin's Day, St. Hans evening with a bonfire, Constitution Day and Christmas Eve for travellers in Sydney.
The Danish royal family has paid several visits to the church, most recently in 2005 when Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik visited as well as in 2009, when the Crown Prince was part of the naming ceremony of the church to 'Frederikskirken'.
The Church in Sydney offers Danish language tuition for adults as well as for children, a free library, a craft group and a playgroup. Also cafe evenings, family outings, a youth network and an au-pair network are organised by the church.
A special event during the year is the Danish Christmas Fete in Sydney and The Christmas Market in Brisbane. In Melbourne the Danish congregation is part of the Scandinavian Christmas Bazar.
In 2015 a Scandinavian Market took place for the first time in Sydney on the grounds of The Danish Church in the Pennant Hills along with the other Scandinavian Churches. The hope is that this will also be an annual event.
The Danish royal family has paid several visits to the church, most recently in 2005 when Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik visited as well as in 2009, when the Crown Prince was part of the naming ceremony of the church to 'Frederikskirken'.
The Church in Sydney offers Danish language tuition for adults as well as for children, a free library, a craft group and a playgroup. Also cafe evenings, family outings, a youth network and an au-pair network are organised by the church.
A special event during the year is the Danish Christmas Fete in Sydney and The Christmas Market in Brisbane. In Melbourne the Danish congregation is part of the Scandinavian Christmas Bazar.
In 2015 a Scandinavian Market took place for the first time in Sydney on the grounds of The Danish Church in the Pennant Hills along with the other Scandinavian Churches. The hope is that this will also be an annual event.
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For more information on The Danish Church in Australia please visit their website or call +61 2 9980 8223.
You can also find them on Facebook. |
activities at the church |