Looking Back: Scotland and Norway

From September 1953

SCOTLAND AND NORWAY

THE MODERATOR AT TRONDHEIM CELEBRATIONS

Until the end of the Middle Ages part of the islands of Scotland were under the jurisdiction of the Norwegian Archbishopric of Nidaros (Trondheim), which celebrated the 800^th anniversary of its founding last July in the presence of King Haakon and representatives of many Churches. Trondheim Cathedral is the Westminster Abbey of Norway and the place of Coronation of the Norwegian kings. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was present and took part in the proceedings.

In his address Dr. Pitt-Watson spoke of the centuries old association of Norway and its Church with the Church and people of Scotland. Referring to the period when the Orkney Islands formed part of the Norwegian Church Province, he said that perhaps the outstanding monument of that vanished era was the noble Cathedral of St. Magnus at Kirkwall, a legacy sufficient in itself to ensure the abiding gratitude of the Scottish people.

Dr. Pitt-Watson also paid tribute to the heroic resistance of the Norwegian people during the dark years of the Nazi occupation, and to the courageous leadership in that resistance which came from the Norwegian Church and, very notably, from Bishop Fjellbu of Trondheim, who recently visited Scotland to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of St. Andrews.

Many English influences are to be seen in Nidaros Cathedral, which was built, and in parts re-built, by Archbishops who had stayed in England and absorbed knowledge of its architecture in one of the great periods of church building.

To-day the Church of Norway has played an important part in the movement which is drawing the Churches together in closer understanding and unity; and the gatherings in Trondheim in July, with many Churches represented, emphasised again what is held in common in present faith as well as in past tradition.

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