Our worship is based on the liturgies of the ancient Christian West, especially the oldest surviving forms of the Roman rite.
Our UK administration began its work in 2012.
Historical sketch
The Nordic Catholic Church was founded in 1999 in Norway by numerous clergy and laity of the Norwegian (Lutheran) state church, who objected, for theological reasons, to the ordination of women to the presbyterate and episcopate, and had come to embrace the Orthodox Catholic faith of the undivided Church of the first millennium.
At its inception, the Nordic Catholic Church was formed as an extraterritorial diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church of North America, which belonged to the Union of Utrecht of Old Catholic Churches for more than 96 years (from 1907 to 2003) and indeed was its largest member church. While part of the Union of Utrecht, she remained in communion only with those (few but populous) provinces of the Anglican Communion that had not purported to ordain women to the priesthood.
The Polish National Catholic Church and thus also the Nordic Catholic Church did not recognize, for theological reasons, the female priests which several of the other member churches of the Union of Utrecht had unilaterally begun to ordain. Since the revised Statute of the Union of Utrecht did not allow for this situation of impaired communion to continue, the Polish National Catholic Church and the Nordic Catholic Church had to separate from the Union of Utrecht in 2003.
In 2011, the Nordic Catholic Church became autonomous through the election and consecration of a Norwegian bishop, the Most Rev. Dr. Roald Nikolai Flemestad. In the same year, the Polish National Catholic Church and the Nordic Catholic Church joined to found the Union of Scranton as an orthodox alternative to the Union of Utrecht. The Union of Scranton is open to other catholic churches and is in dialogue, for instance, with several jurisdictions of Anglo-Catholic tradition concerning potential membership.
Since 2021 the Scandinavian Diocese of the Nordic Catholic Church is led by Bishop Ottar Mikael Myrseth, whereas Bishop Roald Nikolai Flemestad, after having consecrated his successor for Scandinavia, remains Bishop of the Nordic Catholic Church in Continental Europe and the United Kingdom.
As of 2022, the Nordic Catholic Church has parishes and missions in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.
Theology, liturgy, and ecumenical recognition
The Churches of the Union of Scranton (viz. Polish National Catholic Church and Nordic Catholic Church) are theologically Orthodox: They profess the faith of the Undivided Church as summarized in the Old Catholic-Orthodox Agreed Statements, The Road to Unity (1975-1987), which constitute their foundational theological document.
Like the Orthodox Churches, both the Polish National Catholic Church and the Nordic Catholic Church have been in limited intercommunion with the Roman Catholic Church since 2006 (in accordance with Canon 844.2-3). In particular, the validity of the holy orders and all other sacraments of the Polish National Catholic Church and the Nordic Catholic Church have been recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.
Reflection for Lent Matthew 6;19–21 Lent is our opportunity to renew our lives, starting with an... Read more →
Who we are
FINDING A WAY TO SUSTAIN THE UNIQUE CHRISTIAN FAITH
The main Christian denominations are facing incredible pressures from the political world in which they have played an important role for many centuries. Many of their members have lost confidence in the leaders and the man made solutions and compromises they offer in these difficult times. We hope to be able to help those who are unsupported all over the world in a developing family of orthodox believers who feel they are living now a “remnant”.
We participate in a fellowship supported by the bishops of the Nordic Catholic Church in Europe and the Polish National Catholic Church in North America. Both of these Churches are part of the original Old Catholic Church, rooted in the scriptures and the apostolic faith and order of the first millennium. Our life and liturgy reflects our roots in nearly two thousand years of British Christianity. (See material in Documents under "Resources" above.)
For the past six years we have had meetings with many other Christians from across the world, from other traditions and cultures to find a foundation for the future that enables us to work with and support each other in an age hostile to our faith, and much of our history. This is bearing fruit as can be seen in the Mainz report of the most recent gathering in February 2023. (See material in Documents under "Resouces" above.)
Although in the UK we are mainly former members of the Church of England and proud of our heritage, our present witness seeks to bring the Gospel to our present predicament and future generations. Most important is our desire to offer friendship with experience and protection to any small groups who feel isolated and wish to pray study and share a similar way of life. We do not have all the answers or even a precise blueprint for the way ahead, but we are willing to be imaginative, to use the resources available and respond to the Holy Spirit in defense of our unique heritage as Christ’s body.
For further information please contact our Vicar General, Fr. Geoffrey Neal by email at gmneal06@gmail.com.
Our Bishop
The Most Rev. Roald Nikolai Flemestad, Bishop of the Nordic Catholic Church.
The Bishop's Seal and Motto
Per timorem Domini et
sancti Spiritus consolationem.
The Bishop's Calendar
15 January
Annual Member Meeting, Martinuswerk (Germany), video conference.
9-12 February
Theological conference
of the Union of Scranton: "God be in my thinking - The intellectual background of the secularization", Mainz, Germany.
18 February
Clergy meeting of the Nordic Catholic Church in Scandinavia, Oslo.
24 April
The International Catholic Bishops Conference (ICBC), video conference.
12-14 May
Altar blessing and celebrations, St. Vincent of Lérins mission, Rožňava, Slovakia.
3-5 August
Theological Conference at Gran, Norway.
5-6 August
20th Anniversary Celebration of St. Michael's Church, Fredrikstad.
17-20 August
Celebration to mark the retirement of Bishop Emeritus Roald Nikolai by the German Adinistration, hosted by the Abbey of St. Severin, Kaufbeuren, .
Upcoming
An episcopal visit is planned to take place in the UK in October.
Ongoing
Scheduled video conferences with the local administrations.
Meetings and Events 2023 – NCC Europe
Currently scheduled meetings and events:
9-12 February
Theological conference of the Union of Scranton: “God be in my thinking – The intellectual background of the secularization”, Mainz, Germany.
12-14 May
Church Event, St. Vincent of Lérins mission, Rožňava, Slovakia.
3-5 August
International Theological Conference at Gran, Norway.
