THE QUICK GUIDE TO UNITARIANISM IN NORWAY

How Unitarianism arrived in Norway:

1892 and 1893 the Norwegian Unitarian ministers Hans Tambs Lyche and Kristofer Janson returned from America and at once started independently of each other to introduce Unitarianism.

In 1894 Tambs Lyche failed to organize a Unitarian Church in Oslo (then Kristiania) but managed to publish Norway’s first Unitarian periodical (Free Words).

In January 1895 Kristofer Janson founded The Church of Brotherhood in Oslo which was to be the first Unitarian church – where he stayed as the congregation’s pastor only for 3 years.

1898 Conflict between Kristofer Janson and his congregation. Hans Tambs Lyche dies.

1900 Large group of members leaves the church, including Janon's wife and most of the former church board.

1900-1906 Two Unitarian movements independently of each other: The Church of Brotherhood and The followers of Kristofer Janson. 1905-06 competition between the groups.

In 1904 Herman Haugerud was to return to Norway from America and to become the last Unitarian pastor to The Unitarian Society (which The Church of Brotherhood now was renamed).

1906 Kristofer Janson retires from active Unitarian work and his group ceases to exist. Herman Haugerud and his church now the only Unitarian movement in Norway.

1917 Kristofer Janson dies in Denmark.

1937 Herman Haugerud dies and the Unitarian church ceased to exist shortly thereafter.

Between 1986 to 2003 different Unitarian groups were active in Oslo. In 2004 some of these merged into The Unitarian Association which registered as a religious society April 20 2005 under the name The Unitarian Association (The Norwegian Unitarian Church). Later “Bét Dávid” has been added to the name: The Bét Dávid Unitarian Association (The Norwegian Unitarian Church). This church continues the Transylvanian Unitarian Christian tradition according to the first Unitarian bishop Francis David (died 1579) and modern Unitarian churches in Hungary and Romania but is also inspired by the Unitarian Sabbatarian movement. In 2006 this church became associated with the International Councils of Unitarians and Universalists.

In 2007 The Oslo Area Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was established inspired by the Unitarian Universalist tradition found in the USA and The Unitarian Universalist Association.

History of Unitarian organizations:

1895-1937: Church of Brotherhood (Unitarian Society), Oslo. In 1900 c. 88 members. Ceased to exist.

1938-1985: No Unitarian organizations. The number of Unitarians declining. In 1950 only 17 registered.

1986-1998: One Unitarian group in Oslo. 9 members. Ceased to exist.

1999-2003: No Unitarian groups active. 3 Unitarians registered.

2003-present: One Transylvanian Unitarian Family Group. 6 members.

2004-2005: Unitarian Association, Oslo. An interim organization later to become The Norwegian Unitarian Church. 12 members.

2005-present: The Bét Dávid Unitarian Association (Norwegian Unitarian Church). Oslo. Registered in April 2005. In 2005 37 members.

2007-present: The Oslo Area Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Norweigan Unitarian periodicals and Internet publications:

1888-1900 Kristofer Janson publishes his religious periodical "Saamanden".

Oct. 1894-March 1896: Hans Tambs Lyche publishes the first Norwegian Unitarian periodical Frie Ord (“Free Words”). This periodical was later continued 1896-98 under the direction of Mr. A. Sabro but not as a Unitarian paper.

April 1906-March 1907: Herman Haugerud publishes the Unitarian parish magazine Unitaren (“The Unitarian”).

2001: Knut.A. Berg: Freethinking believers, The Unitarians. Translated by G. Hertz from the Norwegian text.

December 2004-present: The Unitarian historical webblog: Unitaren (“The Unitarian”).

2006-present: Church records for The Church of Brotherhood (Unitarian Society) .

2006: Knut Heidelberg: The History of Unitarianism in Norway 1893-1937.

2007: Knut Heidelberg: An outline of the history of Unitarianism in Norway 1893-1937.

Unitarian pastors in Norway:

Mary Rebecca Godden. Married to Hans Tambs Lyche, Unitarian Minister Meadville, moved to Norway. English teacher in Oslo.

Hans Tambs Lyche. Studied at Meadville, not graduated, ordained July 19, 1884, in Janesville ? Wisconsin, died 1898 in Oslo.

Kristofer Janson. Ordained 1881 in Third Unitarian Church in Chicago, died 1917. Buried in Denmark.

Herman Haugerud. Ordained December 3, 1809, in USA (place unknown), died 1937.

Knut Heidelberg

Unitarian pastors ordained by The Norwegian Unitarian Church:

Roberto Rosso, 2008, Italy.

Partnership Unitarian pastors:

Szilard Sandor. Ministering The Transylvanian Unitarian Family Group February 2005-Februrary 2006.

Sandor Leta. Partnership pastor to The Unitarian Associaton (The Norwegian Unitarian Church) since January 2007.

Historical documents for download:

Herman Haugerud's Certificate of Matriculation 1887

Herman Haugerud's Certificate of Ordination 1895

Herman Haugerud's Marriage Licence 1895