Crown Princess Mette-Marit Inaugurates Church in Florida

Crown Princess Mette-Marit inaugurated the newly built “Norwegian Seamen’s Church” in Davie, Florida, on November 20, 2011. The church carries the Crown Princess’ name and is now officially called “Sjømannskirken H.K.H. Kronprinsesse Mette-Marits kirke, Scandinavian Church and Center”.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit said she is “proud and happy” to have a church named after her. There are around 4000 Norwegians in southern Florida, but it’s planned to be a center for over 10,000 Scandinavians in the state. The new church building opened 30 years after Seamen’s Church established itself in Florida 1981.

During the consecration service on Sunday, which about 650 people attended, Crown Princess Mette-Marit read Francis of Assisi’s prayer, the same prayer the Crown Prince and Princess chose for their wedding. After the service she held an official opening speech on the church ground and cut the ribbon. The speech can be found here.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit has already visited the church on Friday, November 18, and participated in a dinner where 110 guests were invited.

It’s traditional for the Norwegian Seamen’s Church to name churches after members of the Royal Family. The Seamen’s Church in Stockholm is called “Kronprinsesse Märthas Kirke”, the church and culture centre in Paris is named after Queen Sonja and the Norwegian Seaman’s Church in New York carries King Olav’s name. The church in Torrevieja (Spain) is named after Princess Märtha Louise and the Seamen’s Church in Copenhagen is called “Sjømannskirken i København, Kong Haakons kirke”.

Still the name of living kings is not used, therefore there is no church (yet) named after King Harald or the future King Haakon.

Filed under Norway
Tagged Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Religion, United States of America, Working Visit.